When Should Premature Ventricular Contractions Be Considered as a Red Flag in Children with Cardiomyopathy?

Marianna Cicenia,Fabrizio Drago,Massimo S Silvetti

doi:10.3390/jcdd8120176

Abstract

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common and generally benign in childhood and tend to resolve spontaneously in most cases. When PVCs occur frequently, an arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy may be present requiring medical or catheter ablation. PVCs are only rarely the manifestation of a cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this review is to provide some tips and tricks to raise the suspicion of a cardiac disease based on the presence and characteristics of PVCs in children.

Highlights

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are classically considered common findings among children. Their prevalence varies across reports, case series and the age of children
PVCs are found on electrocardiograms (ECG) and/or 24-h ECG Holter monitoring in approximately 40% of children [1]
Isolated PVCs are detected in about 10–15% of infants with structurally normal hearts and usually disappear in the first three years of life

Summary

Introduction

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are classically considered common findings among children. Their prevalence varies across reports, case series and the age of children. PVCs are found on electrocardiograms (ECG) and/or 24-h ECG Holter monitoring in approximately 40% of children [1]. Isolated PVCs are detected in about 10–15% of infants with structurally normal hearts and usually disappear in the first three years of life. PVCs persist in 20 to 35% of healthy adolescents [2]. To date, the mechanism relating to the spontaneous resolution of PVCs in childhood remains unclear

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