Congenital heart block (patient information): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Congenital heart block may be found before or after a baby is born. Certain diseases that may occur during pregnancy can cause heart block in a baby. Some congenital heart defects also can cause congenital heart block. | Congenital heart block may be found before or after a baby is born. Certain diseases that may occur during [[pregnancy]] can cause [[heart block]] in a baby. Some congenital heart defects also can cause congenital heart block. | ||
==What are the symptoms of Congenital heart block?== | ==What are the symptoms of Congenital heart block?== | ||
*Signs and symptoms depend on the type of heart block you have. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms. | *Signs and symptoms depend on the type of heart block you have. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms. | ||
*Symptoms of second- and third-degree heart block include: | *Symptoms of second- and third-degree heart block include: | ||
**Fainting | **[[Fainting]] | ||
**Dizziness or light-headedness | **[[Dizziness]] or [[light-headedness]] | ||
**Fatigue (tiredness) | **[[Fatigue]] ([[tiredness]]) | ||
**Shortness of breath | **[[Shortness of breath]] | ||
**Chest pain | **[[Chest pain]] | ||
==What causes Congenital heart block?== | ==What causes Congenital heart block?== | ||
In pregnant women, antibodies can cross the placenta. (The placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mother's womb.) These proteins can damage the baby's heart and lead to congenital heart block. | In pregnant women, [[antibody|antibodies]] can cross the [[placenta]]. (The placenta is the organ that attaches the [[umbilical cord]] to the mother's womb.) These proteins can damage the baby's heart and lead to congenital heart block. | ||
These defects are problems with the heart's structure that are present at birth. Often, doctors don't know what causes these defects. | These defects are problems with the heart's structure that are present at birth. Often, doctors don't know what causes these defects. | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
One form of congenital heart block occurs in babies whose mothers have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. People who have these diseases make proteins called antibodies that attack and damage the body's tissues or cells. | One form of congenital heart block occurs in babies whose mothers have autoimmune diseases, such as [[SLE|lupus]]. People who have these diseases make proteins called antibodies that attack and damage the body's tissues or cells. | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
Heart block may be diagnosed as part of a routine doctor's visit or during an emergency situation. (Third-degree heart block often is an emergency.) | Heart block may be diagnosed as part of a routine doctor's visit or during an emergency situation. ([[Third-degree heart block]] often is an emergency.) | ||
Your doctor will diagnose heart block based on your family and medical histories, a physical exam, and results from tests like [[EKG]]. | Your doctor will diagnose [[heart block]] based on your family and medical histories, a physical exam, and results from tests like [[EKG]]. | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
Treatment depends on the type of heart block. First-degree heart block usually needs no treatment. | Treatment depends on the type of heart block. [[First-degree heart block]] usually needs no treatment. | ||
*For | *For [[second-degree heart block]], patient may need a [[pacemaker]]. A pacemaker is a small device that's placed under the skin of your chest or [[abdomen]]. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. | ||
*For | *For [[third-degree heart block]], patient will need a pacemaker. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Congenital heart block?== | ==Where to find medical care for Congenital heart block?== | ||
| Line 45: | Line 45: | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
Patients presenting as fetuses or at birth have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates than do patients presenting later in childhood | Patients presenting as fetuses or at birth have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates than do patients presenting later in childhood. | ||
==Possible complications== | ==Possible complications== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
The mother should consult with a rheumatologist to begin monitoring for possible autoimmune disease. Consultation with a rheumatologist is also advised for the infant, particularly if other manifestations of neonatal lupus erythematosus are present. | The mother should consult with a rheumatologist to begin monitoring for possible autoimmune disease. Consultation with a rheumatologist is also advised for the infant, particularly if other manifestations of [[neonatal lupus erythematosus]] are present. | ||
Genetic consultation is recommended for children with first-degree relatives with structural heart disease or those with storage disorder or cardiomyopathy. | Genetic consultation is recommended for children with first-degree relatives with structural heart disease or those with storage disorder or [[cardiomyopathy]]. | ||
[[Category:Cardiology]] | [[Category:Cardiology]] | ||
Revision as of 15:07, 7 February 2013
|
Congenital heart block |
|
Congenital heart block On the Web |
|---|
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Congenital heart block |
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Overview
Congenital heart block may be found before or after a baby is born. Certain diseases that may occur during pregnancy can cause heart block in a baby. Some congenital heart defects also can cause congenital heart block.
What are the symptoms of Congenital heart block?
- Signs and symptoms depend on the type of heart block you have. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms.
- Symptoms of second- and third-degree heart block include:
What causes Congenital heart block?
In pregnant women, antibodies can cross the placenta. (The placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mother's womb.) These proteins can damage the baby's heart and lead to congenital heart block.
These defects are problems with the heart's structure that are present at birth. Often, doctors don't know what causes these defects.
Who is at highest risk?
One form of congenital heart block occurs in babies whose mothers have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. People who have these diseases make proteins called antibodies that attack and damage the body's tissues or cells.
When to seek urgent medical care?
The symptoms may suggest other health problems as well. If the symptoms mentioned above are new or severe,the patient need to visit hospital emergency room. For milder symptoms, talk with your doctor right away to find out whether the patient need prompt treatment.
Diagnosis
Heart block may be diagnosed as part of a routine doctor's visit or during an emergency situation. (Third-degree heart block often is an emergency.)
Your doctor will diagnose heart block based on your family and medical histories, a physical exam, and results from tests like EKG.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the type of heart block. First-degree heart block usually needs no treatment.
- For second-degree heart block, patient may need a pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that's placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.
- For third-degree heart block, patient will need a pacemaker.
Where to find medical care for Congenital heart block?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Congenital heart block
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Patients presenting as fetuses or at birth have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates than do patients presenting later in childhood.
Possible complications
Congenital complete heart block is an increasingly recognized cause of fetal loss
Prevention
The mother should consult with a rheumatologist to begin monitoring for possible autoimmune disease. Consultation with a rheumatologist is also advised for the infant, particularly if other manifestations of neonatal lupus erythematosus are present.
Genetic consultation is recommended for children with first-degree relatives with structural heart disease or those with storage disorder or cardiomyopathy.