Functional atrioventricular block in a preterm infant

Abstract

A case of functional second degree atrioventricular block is reported in a preterm infant secondary to early onset hypocalcaemia. An infusion of 10% calcium gluconate rapidly corrected the arrhythmia. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001;85:F220-F221)

A rare cause of 2: 1 Atrioventricular block and congestive heart failure in preterm infants: Hypocalsemia

“…In a study by Oppe and Redstone higher incidence of early-onset hypocalcemia has been demonstrated. [1] As was seen in our case especially in infants with respiratory distress syndrome, increased incidence of hypocalcemia has been reported related to increased endogenous phosphate release due to both deficient intake and catabolism. In premature infants exposed to hypoxia and anoxia thyrocalcitonin release increases which contributes to prolongation of hypocalcemia .…”

“…Hypocalcemia is among very rarely seen causes of arrhytmia. [1] Congenital heart block is a rarely seen condition. It generally develops secondary to cardiac anomalies, and maternal autoimmune disease.…”

“…In premature infants exposed to hypoxia and anoxia thyrocalcitonin release increases which contributes to prolongation of hypocalcemia . [1] Hypocalcemia is a very rarely seen etiology of reversible heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. Although it is most frequently reported in adults, in children cases with dilated cardiomyopathy related to hypocalcemia secondary to rachitism have been also reported.…”

“…published a case which demonstrated the correlation between hypocalcemia and heart block. [1,10] Also other case reports demonstrating prolongod QT and QTc intervals and changes in T wave associated with hypocalcemia have been published. [1,9] In our case sisnce calcium infusion dramatically resolved symptoms of AV block and congestive heart failure, we thought that this problem was related to hypocalcemia.…”

Impact of Hypocalcemia on the Prognosis of Patients with Acute Myocarditis

“…Although tachycardia caused by hypocalcemia is common, AVB has only been reported in a few cases and the exact mechanism remains unclear. [33][34][35][36][37][38] In the present study, the incidence rates of both AVB and VT/VF were higher in the hypocalcemia group than in the normal serum calcium group, suggesting that hypocalcemia led to severe arrhythmias. Moreover, VT/VF was the most common cause of death among the acute viral myocarditis patients in this study.…”