Treatment of fetal congenital complete heart block with maternal administration of beta-sympathomimetics (terbutaline): a case report.

We report a case of fetal congenital heart block treated with maternal administration of beta-sympathomimetics. The case was diagnosed as fetal complete heart block associated with maternal anti-Ro/SS-A antibody at 22 weeks of gestation. By fetal sonography, the ventricular rate was revealed to be 60 beats/min and mild cardiomegaly was shown. We initiated maternal administration of a sympathomimetic, specifically terbutaline, to prevent fetal heart failure. An increase in the fetal ventricular rate and an improvement in cardiac function were both achieved during the treatment. A viable infant was delivered by an elective cesarean section without complications at term. Maternal administration of the beta-adrenergic agent terbutaline is suggested to be effective for improving fetal congenital heart block in order to prevent heart failure in utero. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel