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Documented Transient Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block and Asystole in a Child with Familial Dysautonomia

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Abstract

An 11-year-old boy with familial dysautonomia presented with palpitations. Continuous 24-h Holter monitoring revealed intermittent high-grade atrioventricular block and asystole. The unopposed parasympathetic tone in patients with dysautonomia may make them susceptible to bradycardia and atrioventricular block. We recommend routine 24-h Holter monitoring screening and, when indicated, consideration of pacemaker implantation to reduce the high risk of sudden death phenomena in this patient population.

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Acknowledgment

Amichay Rotstein, M.D., was supported by a fellowship grant from the Medical Research Institute Council (MRIC), Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 14 Kaplan Street, Petah-Tikva, 49202, Israel

    Amichay Rotstein

  2. Department of Genetics, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Joel Charrow

  3. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Barbara J. Deal

Authors
  1. Amichay Rotstein
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  2. Joel Charrow
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  3. Barbara J. Deal
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Correspondence to Amichay Rotstein.

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Rotstein, A., Charrow, J. & Deal, B.J. Documented Transient Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block and Asystole in a Child with Familial Dysautonomia. Pediatr Cardiol 29, 202–204 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-007-9057-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-007-9057-3

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