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Kim SJ, Jeon HD, Shim SY, Kim YS, Park MH, Lee KA. What Is the Optimal Digoxin Level? Challenging Case of Fetal Atrial Flutter Treatment in a Monochorionic Diamniotic Twin. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1198. [PMID: 37512010 PMCID: PMC10384027 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59071198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Background: Atrial flutter is an infrequent yet potentially fatal arrhythmia. Digoxin is the preferred first-line treatment for fetal atrial flutter due to its efficacy and favorable safety profile. The optimal digoxin serum target level for neonatal atrial flutter management remains uncertain, with the standard target level ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 ng/mL due to potential toxicity concerns above this threshold. Case Presentation: We present a case of atrial flutter in a fetus within a monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancy that was successfully managed using a higher-than-standard target level of digoxin. A 34-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our institution at 31 + 3 weeks of gestation due to fetal distress in an MCDA twin pregnancy. Fetal echocardiography revealed a ventricular rate of 214 bpm in twin A, while twin B exhibited no abnormal findings. Conclusions: Our case highlights a distinct correlation between the serum digoxin level and its impact on atrial flutter. A higher target serum level of digoxin may be necessary to achieve sinus conversion due to the unique maternal and fetal circulatory characteristics in MCDA pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Jung Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Do Jeon
- Department of Cardiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - So-Yeon Shim
- Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi-Seul Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Hye Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung A Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
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Transplacental Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pregnant Women with Fetal Tachyarrhythmia Using HPLC-MS/MS. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031848. [PMID: 36768172 PMCID: PMC9916042 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal arrhythmia develops in 0.1-5% of pregnancies and may cause fetal heart failure and fetal hydrops, thus increasing fetal, neonatal, and infant mortality. The timely initiation of transplacental antiarrhythmic therapy (ART) promotes the conversion of fetal tachycardia to sinus rhythm and the regression of the concomitant non-immune fetal hydrops. The optimal treatment regimen search for the fetus with tachyarrhythmia is still of high value. Polymorphisms of these genes determines the individual features of the drug pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to study the pharmacokinetics of transplacental anti-arrhythmic drugs in the fetal therapy of arrhythmias using HPLC-MS/MS, as well as to assess the effect of the multidrug-resistance gene ABCB1 3435C > T polymorphism on the efficacy and maternal/fetal complications of digoxin treatment. The predisposition to a decrease in the bioavailability of the digoxin in patients with a homozygous variant of the CC polymorphism showed a probable association with the development of ART side effects. A pronounced decrease in heart rate in women with the 3435TT allele of the ABCB1 gene was found. The homozygous TT variant in the fetus showed a probable association with an earlier response to ART and rhythm disruptions on the digoxin dosage reduction. high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods for digoxin and sotalol therapeutic drug monitoring in blood plasma, amniotic fluid, and urine were developed. The digoxin and sotalol concentrations were determined in the plasma blood, urine, and amniotic fluid of 30 pregnant women at four time points (from the beginning of the transplacental antiarrhythmic therapy to delivery) and the plasma cord blood of 30 newborns. A high degree of correlation between the level of digoxin and sotalol in maternal and cord blood was found. The ratio of digoxin and sotalol in cord blood to maternal blood was 0.35 (0.27 and 0.46) and 1.0 (0.97 and 1.07), accordingly. The digoxin concentration in the blood of the fetus at the moment of the first rhythm recovery episode, 0.58 (0.46, 0.8) ng/mL, was below the therapeutic interval. This confirms the almost complete transplacental transfer of sotalol and the significant limitation in the case of digoxin. Previously, ABCB1/P-glycoprotein had been shown to limit fetal exposure to drugs. Further studies (including multicenter ones) to clarify the genetic features of the transplacental pharmacokinetics of antiarrhythmic drugs are needed.
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Gozar L, Gabor-Miklosi D, Toganel R, Fagarasan A, Gozar H, Toma D, Cerghit-Paler A. Fetal Tachyarrhythmia Management from Digoxin to Amiodarone-A Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030804. [PMID: 35160256 PMCID: PMC8836967 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained fetal tachycardias are rare but represent a high risk of mortality and morbidity. Consensus has yet to be found regarding their optimal management. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the data available in the current literature regarding the efficacy and safety of medications used in the management of intrauterine tachyarrhythmias and to provide possible treatment protocols. In this review, we would like to emphasize the importance of a thorough evaluation of both the fetus and the mother, prior to transplacental antiarrhythmic drug initiation. Factors such as the hemodynamic status of the fetus, possible mechanisms of fetal arrhythmia, and concomitant maternal conditions are of primordial importance. As a possible treatment protocol, we would like to recommend the following: due to the risk of sustained supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), fetuses with frequent premature atrial beats should be evaluated more frequently by echocardiography. A careful hemodynamic evaluation of a fetus with tachycardia is primordial in forestalling the appearance of hydrops. In the case of atrial flutter (AFL), sotalol therapy could represent a first choice, whereas when dealing with SVT patients, flecainide should be considered, especially for hydropic patients. These data require consolidation through larger scale, non-randomized studies and should be handled with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Gozar
- Department of Pediatrics, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania; (L.G.); (R.T.); (A.F.); (D.T.); (A.C.-P.)
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
| | - Dorottya Gabor-Miklosi
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-740-371-322
| | - Rodica Toganel
- Department of Pediatrics, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania; (L.G.); (R.T.); (A.F.); (D.T.); (A.C.-P.)
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
| | - Amalia Fagarasan
- Department of Pediatrics, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania; (L.G.); (R.T.); (A.F.); (D.T.); (A.C.-P.)
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
| | - Horea Gozar
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania;
| | - Daniela Toma
- Department of Pediatrics, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania; (L.G.); (R.T.); (A.F.); (D.T.); (A.C.-P.)
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
| | - Andreea Cerghit-Paler
- Department of Pediatrics, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania; (L.G.); (R.T.); (A.F.); (D.T.); (A.C.-P.)
- Pediatric Cardiology, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, 540139 Târgu-Mureș, Romania
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Jeong SI, Won H, Song I, Oh J. Therapeutic drug monitoring on the use of transplacental digoxin in fetal tachyarrhythmia: a case report. Transl Clin Pharmacol 2022; 30:83-86. [PMID: 35800665 PMCID: PMC9253450 DOI: 10.12793/tcp.2022.30.e11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sae Im Jeong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Heejae Won
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Ildae Song
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Korea
| | - Jaeseong Oh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
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