Preterm labor and accidental hemorrhage after disopyramide therapy in pregnancy - A case report

BACKGROUND: Treatment of arrhythmias during pregnancy is complicated by con cerns about the safety of antiarrhythmic therapy. This is the first case re port of preterm labor and abruptio placentae following the administration o f disopyramide during pregnancy. CASE: A 26-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, was diagnosed as having Wolff -Parkinson-White syndrome during the third trimester of pregnancy. Recurren t episodes of supra-ventricular tachycardia were refractory to medical ther apy and required repeated direct current cardioversion. Administration of d isopyramide led to the initiation of painful uterine contractions and accid ental hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Caution must be exercised during the use of disopyramide during pregnancy, and intensive monitoring should be instituted to avoid adverse maternal and fetal effects.