Christopher C Cheung1, Krystien V Lieve2, Thomas M Roston1, Martijn H van der Ree2, Marc W Deyell1, Jason G Andrade1, Zachary W Laksman1, Eline A Nannenberg3, Rafik Tadros2, Benjamin Pang4, Julie Rutberg4, Martin S Green4, Susan Conacher5, Colette M Seifer6, Jason D Roberts6, Christian Steinberg7, Shubhayan Sanatani8, Arthur A Wilde2, Andrew D Krahn9. 1. Heart Rhythm Services, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2. Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Heart Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Heart Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 4. Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 5. Division of Cardiology, Western University, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada. 6. Division of Cardiology, University of Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 7. Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada. 8. Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 9. Heart Rhythm Services, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: akrahn@mail.ubc.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This investigation was a retrospective study of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) patients in Canada and the Netherlands to compare pregnancy, postpartum, and nonpregnant event rates. BACKGROUND: CPVT is characterized by life-threatening arrhythmias during exertion or emotional stress. The arrhythmic risk in CPVT patients during pregnancy is unknown. METHODS: Baseline demographics, genetics, treatment, and pregnancy complications were reviewed. Event rate calculations assumed a 40-week pregnancy and 24-week postpartum period. RESULTS: Ninety-six CPVT patients had 228 pregnancies (median 2 pregnancies per patient; range: 1 to 10; total: 175.4 pregnant patient-years). The median age of CPVT diagnosis was 40.7 years (range: 12 to 84 years), with a median follow-up of 2.9 years (range: 0 to 20 years; total 448.1 patient-years). Most patients had pregnancies before CPVT diagnosis (82%). Pregnancy and postpartum cardiac events included syncope (5%) and an aborted cardiac arrest (1%), which occurred in patients who were not taking beta-blockers. Other complications included miscarriages (13%) and intrauterine growth restriction (1 case). There were 6 cardiac events (6%) during the nonpregnant period. The pregnancy and postpartum event rates were 1.71 and 2.85 events per 100 patient-years, respectively, and the combined event rate during the pregnancy and postpartum period was 2.14 events per 100 patient-years. These rates were not different from the nonpregnant event rate (1.46 events per 100 patient-years). CONCLUSIONS: The combined pregnancy and postpartum arrhythmic risk in CPVT patients was not elevated compared with the nonpregnant period. Most patients had pregnancies before diagnosis, and all patients with events were not taking beta-blockers at the time of the event.
OBJECTIVES: This investigation was a retrospective study of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) patients in Canada and the Netherlands to compare pregnancy, postpartum, and nonpregnant event rates. BACKGROUND: CPVT is characterized by life-threatening arrhythmias during exertion or emotional stress. The arrhythmic risk in CPVT patients during pregnancy is unknown. METHODS: Baseline demographics, genetics, treatment, and pregnancy complications were reviewed. Event rate calculations assumed a 40-week pregnancy and 24-week postpartum period. RESULTS: Ninety-six CPVT patients had 228 pregnancies (median 2 pregnancies per patient; range: 1 to 10; total: 175.4 pregnant patient-years). The median age of CPVT diagnosis was 40.7 years (range: 12 to 84 years), with a median follow-up of 2.9 years (range: 0 to 20 years; total 448.1 patient-years). Most patients had pregnancies before CPVT diagnosis (82%). Pregnancy and postpartum cardiac events included syncope (5%) and an aborted cardiac arrest (1%), which occurred in patients who were not taking beta-blockers. Other complications included miscarriages (13%) and intrauterine growth restriction (1 case). There were 6 cardiac events (6%) during the nonpregnant period. The pregnancy and postpartum event rates were 1.71 and 2.85 events per 100 patient-years, respectively, and the combined event rate during the pregnancy and postpartum period was 2.14 events per 100 patient-years. These rates were not different from the nonpregnant event rate (1.46 events per 100 patient-years). CONCLUSIONS: The combined pregnancy and postpartum arrhythmic risk in CPVT patients was not elevated compared with the nonpregnant period. Most patients had pregnancies before diagnosis, and all patients with events were not taking beta-blockers at the time of the event.
Authors: Peter J Schwartz; Michael J Ackerman; Charles Antzelevitch; Connie R Bezzina; Martin Borggrefe; Bettina F Cuneo; Arthur A M Wilde Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2020-07-16 Impact factor: 52.329