Arrhythmia in early pregnancy: A predictor of first-trimester pregnancy loss

Abstract

Objective. To determine the prognostic significance of cardiac arrhythmia detected in the first trimester. Design. Cases in which embryonic arrhythmia was detected by transvaginal ultrasound between 6 and 9 weeks of gestation were retrospectively identified and reviewed. Results. Embryonic arrhythmia was noted in four of 950 ultrasound examinations. There was associated ventricular bradycardia in three cases, one of which also had an artrial rate below the normal range for gestational age. No cardiac activity was detected at the follow-up examination 1 week later in three cases. In the other, the embryo was alive but there was severe growth delay and the scan the following week confirmed embryonic death. Conclusion. This report suggests that arrhythmia in early pregnancy is associated with subsequent pregnancy loss.