Cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy: efficacy and safety of antiarrhythmic therapy

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Abstract

During pregnancy, there is an increased tendency to develop rhythm disturbances. The treatment of arrhythmias in pregnant women, including the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, has significant features and presents significant problems for medical professionals. The use of most drugs in this group during pregnancy is unsafe due to potential teratogenic effects. Some drugs can cause complications such as birth defects, pregnancy loss, premature birth, infant death, or developmental delays. Preconception counseling regarding the risk of arrhythmia recurrence during pregnancy, consideration of ablation before pregnancy, effective treatment, and close monitoring of high-risk patients can be critical to a successful pregnancy outcome for both mother and fetus. Much attention in the article is paid to the safety of the treatment of rhythm disorders during pregnancy, the features of the use of specific antiarrhythmic drugs, their effect on the body of the mother and fetus, as well as the algorithm of their use in various types of arrhythmias are considered in detail.

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About the authors

Grigory E. Roytberg

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov Medical University)

Author for correspondence.
Email: contact@medicina.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0514-9114
SPIN-code: 1032-9122

MD, PhD, Professor, Academician of the RAS

Russian Federation, Moscow

Irina D. Slastnikova

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov Medical University)

Email: slastid@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4076-2849
SPIN-code: 8198-1964

МD, PhD, Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

Olga O. Sharkhun

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov Medical University)

Email: olga_sharkhun@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8527-4681
SPIN-code: 9987-6100

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

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