Home monitoring of fetal heart rhythm: Lived experiences of women with anti-SSA/Ro52 autoantibodies and their co-parents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the parents' experiences of home monitoring of the fetal heart rhythm. Women with anti-SSA/Ro52 autoantibodies carry a 2%-3% risk of giving birth to a child with congenital heart block (CHB), following transplacental transfer and antibody-mediated inflammation in the fetal conduction system during 18th to 24th gestational week. Early detection and subsequent treatment have been reported to decrease morbidity and mortality. Therefore, home monitoring of the fetal heart rhythm by Doppler has been offered at our fetal cardiology center. This study was undertaken to explore the lived experience of the routine. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a single fetal cardiology center. Consecutive sampling was used. The inclusion criteria were women with SSA/Ro52 antibodies who had undergone Doppler examinations within the last two and a half years at the hospital and had monitored the fetal heartbeat at home. A semi-structured questionnaire was created, and the participants were interviewed individually. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overall theme was defined as "walking on thin ice," with six underlying categories: reality, different strategies, gain and loss, healthcare providers, underlying tension, and conducting the examinations again, all with a focus on how to handle the home monitoring during the risk period. CONCLUSION: Both the mother and the co-parent expressed confidence in their own abilities and that the monitoring provided them with the advantage of growing a bond with the expected child. However, all the participants described a feeling of underlying tension during the risk period. The results show that home monitoring is not experienced as complicated or a burden for the parents-to-be and should be considered a vital part of the chain of care for mothers at risk for giving birth to a child with CHB. However, explaining the teamwork between the different caregivers, for the patients involved, their areas of expertise, and how they collaborate with the patient continues to be a pedagogic challenge and should be developed further.

Newborns with congenital complete heart block: Advice for perinatal care providers.

Congenital complete heart block (CCHB) is a rare, but a potentially life-threatening manifestation of autoimmune diseases in neonates. Bradycardia in CCHB can be misdiagnosed as foetal distress in utero and thus precipitating a Caesarean section. We report a case series of three neonates with bradycardia without any electrolyte abnormalities and structurally normal hearts with favourable outcomes.

Boerhaave's Syndrome Presenting in the Setting of Third-Degree Heart Block.

Introduction: Boerhaave's syndrome, or the spontaneous transmural perforation of the esophagus, is typically thought to be due to an increase in esophageal pressure such as that which occurs during vomiting or retching. Another common etiology of esophageal perforation is esophageal instrumentation, such as during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or transesophageal echocardiography. This life-threatening condition requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent patient demise. While a history of vomiting can aid in diagnosis, this history can be difficult to elicit in an unconscious patient or may be altogether absent. Additionally, Boerhaave's syndrome can present similarly to more common upper gastrointestinal or cardiac conditions. Since mortality increases with delays in diagnosis and treatment, it is imperative that clinicians maintain a high level of suspicion for Boerhaave's syndrome and initiate treatment urgently. Case Description: This report presents a 76-year-old man who presented to the emergency department after a history of several syncopal episodes and was found to be in complete heart block. Two days later, he acutely developed abdominal distention and coffee ground emesis. As the medical team was able to gather more history from the patient and his family, it was revealed that he had associated vomiting with his episodes of syncope. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated pneumomediastinum concerning for esophageal perforation. His clinical status subsequently deteriorated. He was intubated and a temporary transvenous pacer was placed before being transferred to our facility for emergent surgery. Discussion: Complete heart block in the setting of Boerhaave's syndrome is exceptionally rare, with only 2 cases reported in the literature. The decision to place a pacemaker in the setting of esophageal perforation/sepsis is complicated and depends on the patient's bacteremia status related to noncardiac comorbidities. Clearly this case represents the need for excellent multidisciplinary decision-making processes with excellent communication between hospital staff and all caretakers. Expeditious diagnosis and treatment of esophageal perforation is essential to prevent leaking of gastric contents into the mediastinum and worsening of cardiac complications and sepsis. Additionally, critical timing of various surgical procedures, especially the need for a permanent pacemaker implant with bacteremia is a complicated process not well described in the surgical literature.

Autoimmune congenital heart block: a case report and review of the literature related to pathogenesis and pregnancy management.

Autoimmune congenital heart block (ACHB) is a passively acquired immune-mediated disease characterized by the presence of maternal antibodies against components of the Ro/SSA and La/SSB ribonucleoprotein complex that mainly affects the cardiac conducting system. ACHB occurs in 2% of women with positive anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies and causes a high risk of intrauterine fetal death, neonatal mortality, and long-term sequelae. In this review, we first describe a case of ACHB to provide preliminary knowledge. Then, we discuss the possible pathogenic mechanisms of ACHB; summarize the pregnancy management of patients with positive anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies and/or rheumatic diseases, the prevention of ACHB, and the treatment of ACHB fetuses; and propose routine screening of these antibodies for the general population. Careful follow-up, which consists of monitoring the fetal heart rate, is feasible and reassuring for pregnant women with positive anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB antibodies to lower the risk of ACHB in fetuses. Moreover, maternal administration of hydroxychloroquine may be useful in preventing ACHB in pregnant women with anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB antibodies.

[Clinical characteristics of fetal cardiac disease in patients with anti-SSA antibody positive].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators of anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) antibody associated fetal cardiac disease. METHODS: Pregnant women hospitalized at Peking University People's Hospital from January 2013 to July 2023 were included. Eleven patients with anti-SSA antibody positive were eventually diagnosed with fetal cardiac di-sease. And patients with anti-SSA antibody positive without fetal cardiac disease were selected as controls. Clinical manifestations, laboratory indications and drug usage were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among these 11 patients, congenital heart block was confirmed in seven, which was the most common manifestations of fetal cardiac malformation. The proportion of the patients diagnosed with autoimmune disease before pregnancy in fetal cardiac malformation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.032), while most of the patients in the fetal cardiac malformation group received immune-related examinations for the first time because of this time's fetal cardiac diagnosis. While most of the patients in the control group received routine examinations because of autoimmune diseases diagnosed before pregnancy. During pregnancy, the white blood cell level [(9.29±2.58)×109/L vs. (7.10±1.90×109/L, t=3.052, P=0.004], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(49.50 (48.00, 51.00) mm/h vs. 23.00 (15.00, 30.25) mm/h, Z=-2.251, P=0.024], IgA level [3.46 (2.30, 5.06) g/L vs. 2.13 (1.77, 2.77) g/L, Z=-2.181, P=0.029], and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers [1∶320 (1∶160, 1∶320) vs. 1∶80 (1∶40, 1∶160), Z=-3.022, P=0.003] were significantly higher in fetal cardiac malformation group than in the control group. The proportion of positive anti-SSB antibody during pregnancy did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups (37.5% vs. 7.7%, P=0.053). There was no significant difference in hydroxychloroquine dosage and initiation time between the two groups. The dosage of prednisone in the second and third trimesters was significantly higher in the cardiac malformation group than that in the control group, but there was no significant difference in the first trimester. CONCLUSION: Fetal cardiac disease is rare in pregnant women with anti-SSA antibody. White blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IgA, the titer of ANA positivity were higher in the fetal heart disease group during pregnancy. Since congenital heart block is difficult to reverse, its prevention and monitoring are more important than remedial treatment.

Congenital Heart Block.

Congenital complete heart block (CCHB) defines atrioventricular conduction abnormalities diagnosed in utero or within the first 27 days of life. Maternal autoimmune disease and congenital heart defects are most commonly responsible. Recent genetic discoveries have highlighted our understanding of the underlying mechanism. Hydroxychloroquine shows promise in preventing autoimmune CCHB. Patients may develop symptomatic bradycardia and cardiomyopathy. The presence of these and other specific findings warrants placement of a permanent pacemaker to relieve symptoms and prevent catastrophic events. The mechanisms, natural history, evaluation, and treatment of patients with or at risk for CCHB are reviewed.

Takotsubo Syndrome and Complete Heart Block: A Diagnostic and Management Conundrum.

There is increasing evidence that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy behaves more like a highly variable and dangerous syndrome than an isolated cardiomyopathy. In this case report, we describe a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by complete heart block. We discuss the potential mechanisms for its etiology and examine the need for pacemaker placement.

Identifying Congenital Heart Block in Primary Care.

Congenital heart block is a rare disease characterized by electrical conduction abnormalities of the heart in patients with both structural and without structural abnormalities. The most common cause of congenital heart block is autoimmune related, but other potential causes exist. Treatment for congenital heart block is determined by the severity of the disease and presenting symptoms. Primary care providers are in the optimal position to support patients and families. Although common causes and treatments of congenital heart block are known, much research is still to be done on the cause, optimal treatments, and potential long-term side effects.

Atrioventricular dissociation in a cat with persistent truncus arteriosus.

A 10-month-old female domestic shorthaired (DSH) cat was presented with peracute respiratory problems. Physical examination revealed dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, weak pulse and bradycardia. Auscultation showed pulmonary crepitation and attenuated heart sounds and a pansystolic grade V/VI murmur. The electrocardiogram showed atrioventricular dissociation identified as third-degree sinoatrial block. X-rays showed increased density in the ventral and middle zones of the thorax and loss of definition of the cardiac silhouette and increased diffuse radiographic density of the entire abdomen. Echocardiography revealed dilatation of the right atrium and concentric biventricular hypertrophy. A type 1 persistent truncus arteriosus was diagnosed at necropsy. This is the first case report of this type of arrhythmia in a cat with persistent truncus arteriosus, and its relationship with the described congenital cardiac anomaly is discussed.

Maternal Anti-Ro Antibody Titers Obtained With Commercially Available Immunoassays Are Strongly Associated With Immune-Mediated Fetal Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Anti-Ro antibody-positive mothers are frequently referred for serial echocardiography due to the fetal risk of developing heart block and endocardial fibroelastosis. Little is known why only some and not all offspring develop these cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (CNL). This prospective study examined associations between anti-Ro antibody titers and fetal CNL. METHODS: Antibody-positive mothers referred since 2018 for fetal echocardiography at risk of CNL (group 1; n = 240) or with CNL (group 2; n = 18) were included. Maternal antibody titers were measured with a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA). Additional testing on diluted serum samples was used to quantify anti-Ro 60 antibody titers above the analytical measuring range (AMR) of the standard CIA (≥1,375 chemiluminescent units [CU]). RESULTS: Among 27 total mothers with a fetal diagnosis of CNL, all displayed anti-Ro 60 antibody titers that exceeded the AMR of the CIA at least 10-fold. Of 122 mothers in group 1 who underwent additional anti-Ro 60 antibody testing, event rates of CNL (n = 9) were 0% (0 of 45) among mothers with anti-Ro 60 antibody titers from 1,375-10,000 CU, 5% (3 of 56) among mothers with titers from 10,000-50,000 CU, but 29% (6 of 21) among mothers with titers >50,000 CU (odds ratio 13.1, P = 0.0008). Of mothers in group 2 with a primary diagnosis of CNL, 0% (0 of 18 mothers) had anti-Ro 60 antibody titers <10,000 CU, 44% (8 of 18 mothers) had titers from 10,000-50,000 CU, and 56% (10 of 18 mothers) had titers >50,000 CU. CONCLUSION: CNL is associated with substantially higher anti-Ro antibody titers than are obtained using a standard CIA. Enhancing the assay measuring range allows an improved specificity of identifying pregnancies at risk of CNL.

Anti-SSA/Ro positivity and congenital heart block: obstetric and foetal outcome in a cohort of anti-SSA/Ro positive pregnant patients with and without autoimmune diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Neonatal lupus (NL) is an acquired disease caused by the transplacental passage of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies. The rate of congenital heart block (CHB), its most serious manifestation, ranges from 1 to 5%. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the prevalence of CHB in anti-SSA/Ro positive pregnant women with or without systemic autoimmune diseases from 2010 to 2020. METHODS: Patients underwent monthly visit and a shared follow-up programme of weekly (16th-24th week) foetal heart rate assessment by obstetric ultrasound. RESULTS: 322 pregnancies in 258 anti-SSA/Ro patients were included; 314 were followed from the beginning of pregnancy because of the known presence of anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies and 1 case of CHB occurred in an anti-SSA/Ro+ asymptomatic subject (0.3%). In the same period, 8 additional patients were referred to our clinics after in utero CHB diagnosis and subsequent discovery of anti-SSA/Ro without a disease diagnosis. Globally, 9 cases of congenital CHB (2.8%) occurred: 7 complete, 1 II-III degree and 1 rst degree CHB. Anti-SSB/La positivity was associated with a higher risk of CHB (7.8% vs. 1.2%; p=0.0071). No differences in maternal or foetal outcomes were found in comparison with a large cohort of unselected pregnancies except for caesarian section. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was used in 58.3% pregnancies, with a different prevalence according with maternal diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that anti-SSA/Ro positive patents with a de ned systemic autoimmune disease undergoing a strict follow-up since positive pregnancy test display a low risk of pregnancy complications, including but not limited to NL.

Clinical characteristics of fetal cardiac disease in patients with anti-SSA antibody positive / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators of anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) antibody associated fetal cardiac disease.@*METHODS@#Pregnant women hospitalized at Peking University People's Hospital from January 2013 to July 2023 were included. Eleven patients with anti-SSA antibody positive were eventually diagnosed with fetal cardiac di-sease. And patients with anti-SSA antibody positive without fetal cardiac disease were selected as controls. Clinical manifestations, laboratory indications and drug usage were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Among these 11 patients, congenital heart block was confirmed in seven, which was the most common manifestations of fetal cardiac malformation. The proportion of the patients diagnosed with autoimmune disease before pregnancy in fetal cardiac malformation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.032), while most of the patients in the fetal cardiac malformation group received immune-related examinations for the first time because of this time's fetal cardiac diagnosis. While most of the patients in the control group received routine examinations because of autoimmune diseases diagnosed before pregnancy. During pregnancy, the white blood cell level [(9.29±2.58)×109/L vs. (7.10±1.90×109/L, t=3.052, P=0.004], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(49.50 (48.00, 51.00) mm/h vs. 23.00 (15.00, 30.25) mm/h, Z=-2.251, P=0.024], IgA level [3.46 (2.30, 5.06) g/L vs. 2.13 (1.77, 2.77) g/L, Z=-2.181, P=0.029], and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers [1∶320 (1∶160, 1∶320) vs. 1∶80 (1∶40, 1∶160), Z=-3.022, P=0.003] were significantly higher in fetal cardiac malformation group than in the control group. The proportion of positive anti-SSB antibody during pregnancy did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups (37.5% vs. 7.7%, P=0.053). There was no significant difference in hydroxychloroquine dosage and initiation time between the two groups. The dosage of prednisone in the second and third trimesters was significantly higher in the cardiac malformation group than that in the control group, but there was no significant difference in the first trimester.@*CONCLUSION@#Fetal cardiac disease is rare in pregnant women with anti-SSA antibody. White blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IgA, the titer of ANA positivity were higher in the fetal heart disease group during pregnancy. Since congenital heart block is difficult to reverse, its prevention and monitoring are more important than remedial treatment.

Characterization of pre-existing arrhythmogenic substrate associated with de novo early and late postoperative atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: PoAF is the most common complication after cardiac surgery and may occur in patients with pre-existing arrhythmogenic substrate. Characterization of this substrate could aid in identifying patients at risk for PoAF. We therefore compared intra-atrial conduction parameters and electrogram morphology between patients without and with early- (≤5 days after surgery) and late- (up to 5 years) postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Epicardial mapping of the right and left atrium and Bachmann's Bundle (BB) was performed during sinus rhythm (SR) in 263 patients (207male, 67 ± 11 years). Unipolar potentials were classified as single, short or long double and fractionated potentials. Unipolar voltage, fractionation delay (time difference between the first and last deflection), conduction velocity (CV) and conduction block (CB) prevalence were measured. Comparing patients without (N = 166) and with PoAF (N = 97), PoAF was associated with lower CV and more CB at BB. Unipolar voltages were lower and more low-voltage areas were found at the left and right atrium and BB in PoAF patients. These differences were more pronounced in patients with late-PoAF (6%), which could even occur up to 5 years after surgery. Although several electrophysiological parameters were related to PoAF, age was the only independent predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with de novo PoAF have more extensive arrhythmogenic substrate prior to cardiac surgery compared to those who remained in SR, which is even more pronounced in late-PoAF patients. Future studies should evaluate whether intra-operative electrophysiological examination enables identification of patients at risk for developing PoAF and hence (preventive) therapy.

Histological finding of maternal antibody-associated congenital heart block accompanied by large atrial septal defect and severe cardiac dysfunction.

Cardiac dysfunction commonly occurs in congenital heart block associated with maternal anti-SSA antibodies, especially after pacemaker implantation. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl with antibody-associated congenital heart block and a large secundum atrial septal defect who presented with significant cardiac dysfunction 4 years after pacemaker implantation. Histological findings were useful for determining the course of treatment and perioperative risk of intracardiac repair.

Cardiovascular Complications of Interatrial Conduction Block: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Interatrial block (IAB) is an electrocardiographic pattern describing the conduction delay between the right and left atria. IAB is classified into 3 degrees of block that correspond to decreasing conduction in the region of Bachmann's bundle. Although initially considered benign in nature, specific subsets of IAB have been associated with atrial arrhythmias, elevated thromboembolic stroke risk, cognitive impairment, and mortality. As the pathophysiologic relationships between IAB and stroke are reinforced, investigation has now turned to the potential benefit of early detection, atrial imaging, cardiovascular risk factor modification, antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy, and stroke prevention with oral anticoagulation. This review provides a contemporary overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of IAB, with a focus on future directions.

An Atypical Case of Complete Heart Block in Scrub Typhus.

Scrub typhus may be associated with a myriad of signs and symptoms. We report the case of a 41-year old male with complete heart block, which resolved with prompt initiation of treatment.

Conduction delay across the cavotricuspid isthmus block line caused by the gap near the inferior vena cava: the role of conduction block in the lower lateral right atrium.

The electrophysiological properties of the gap associated with the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) block line near the inferior vena cava (IVC) are not fully elucidated. Of 143 patients who underwent CTI block line ablation between September 2020 and April 2021, high-resolution CTI gap mapping was performed for 15 patients. Four patients were identified as having a gap near the IVC (IVC-side gap) despite wide double potentials (DPs) with > 90 ms intervals at the block line. Detailed gap mapping during coronary sinus ostial pacing was performed before and after touch-up ablation. CTI conduction delays caused by an IVC-side gap were classified into 3 patterns: (1) conduction delay at the IVC-side gap without detouring gap conduction, (2) detouring gap conduction due to intrinsic lower lateral right atrium (LLRA)-IVC functional block, and (3) detouring gap conduction due to LLRA-IVC conduction block created by lateral deviation of the CTI ablation line. In Pattern 2, IVC-side gap conduction traveled backward toward the crista terminalis below the LLRA-IVC junction and came back forward again above the border. One patient presented with a head-to-bottom activation pattern of the lateral right atrium (pseudo-CTI block). Pattern 3 was caused by lateral deviation of initial RF deliveries and presented with the same course as intrinsic LLRA-IVC functional block. All patients had wide DP intervals near the tricuspid annulus (mean, 112 ms) and just above the gap site (mean, 109 ms). An IVC-side gap associated with the CTI block line can present with various conduction delay patterns.