Follow-up of isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block with longitudinal measurements of serum NT-proBNP and cardiothoracic ratio

Abstract

There are a few children with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (ICCAVB) who do not require a pacemaker. We report a female infant born at 36 weeks by emergency cesarean section because of fetal heart rate abnormalities who was diagnosed as having ICCAVB. In accordance with the echocardiographic findings, we simultaneously measured the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) by chest radiography and serum Nterminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and have continued to follow her as an outpatient for about 8 years. CTR and NT-proBNP showed strong positive correlation (r=0.894, p<0.05). In such few children with ICCAVB as this patient, CTR measurement during their followup would be very useful to easily understand their cardiac load status.

Radiological Cardiothoracic Ratio in Evidence-Based Medicine

“…In an interesting case report of an eight-year follow-up on a girl with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (ICCAVB) with long-term serum NT-proBNP measurement in conjunction with CTR measurement [ 25 ], the girl was born by caesarean section in the 36th week of pregnancy due to abnormal HR values, and then she was diagnosed with ICCAVB, without the need for pacemaker implantation. NT-proBNP is one of the end products (with biologically active BNP) of pre-proBNP metabolism, released by the muscle cells of the heart ventricles when their stress increases (overload or volume).…”