Uncorrected Author Proof
Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine xx (20xx) x–xx
DOI:10.3233/NPM-190268
IOS Press
1
Case Report 1
Sotalol as an effective adjunct therapy
in the management of supraventricular
tachycardia induced fetal hydrops fetalis
2
3
4
M. Refaat
a
, J. El Dick
a
, M. Sabra
a
, F. Bitar
b
, C. Tayeh
b
and M. Arabi
b,*
5
a
Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Division of
Cardiology, Beirut, Lebanon
6
7
b
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut
Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
8
9
Received 1 April 2019 10
Revised 1 October 2019 11
Accepted 8 October 2019 12
Abstract. Sustained fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) complicated by hydrops fetalis carries a significant risk of
morbidity and mortality. While there is no clear consensus on first- and second-line therapy options for the management of
fetal SVT with or without hydrops fetalis, there exists significant nonrandomized experience with a number of antiarrhythmic
agents that has founded the basis for management. Furthermore, recently published meta-analyses and ongoing multicenter
prospective studies have aimed to bridge the gap in the literature. We report two cases of sustained fetal SVT with severe
secondary hydrops fetalis managed successfully with flecainide-sotalol combination therapy in one case and sotalol-digoxin
combination therapy in the second and review the literature for the management of fetal SVT.
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Keywords: Hydrops fetalis, supraventricular tachycardia, sotalol 20
Abbreviations 21
SVT supraventricular tachycardia
AVRT atrial reentrant tachycardia
AET atrial ectopic tachycardia
PJRT permanent junctional reciprocating
tachycardia
AUBMC American University of Beirut
Medical Center
*
Address for correspondence: Mariam Arabi, MD, Pediatri-
cian, Pediatric Cardiologist, Director of In and Outpatient
clinical services, Head, Fetal Heart Program – Children’s Heart
Center American University of Beirut Medical Center Depart-
ment of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Riad El Solh
1107 2020, Beirut, 11-0236, Lebanon. Tel.: 00961 1 374
374/ Ext: 5872/5881/5889; Fax: 00961 1 370 781; E-mail:
ma81@aub.edu.lb.
Bpm beats/minute
Mg milligrams
EKGs electrocardiograms
HR heart rate
SR sinus rhythm
FDA The United States Food and Drug
Administration
1. Introduction 22
Hydrops fetalis is classically described as the pres- 23
ence of excessive fluid accumulation in at least two 24
fetal body cavities and based on etiology can be 25
divided into two forms; immune-mediated and non- 26
immune mediated [1, 2]. Immune-mediated hydrops 27
1934-5798/19/$35.00 © 2019 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved