OBJECTIVETo study the difference in prognosis for children with acute viral myocarditis induced ventricular premature beats (VPB) originating from different positions, and to study the role of 99Mtc-MIBI myocardial perfusion ECT in the prognostic evaluation of VPB.

METHODSThe clinical data of 83 children with viral myocarditis induced VPB were retrospectively studied. They were divided into four groups according to the original site of VPB, as shown by the ECG: right ventricular (RV) outflow tract, RV anterior wall and apex, left ventricular (LV) outflow tract, LV anterior wall and apex. All patients were treated with anti-viral drugs and myocardial nutritional medicine. Short-term and long term outcomes in the four groups were compared. The relationship between the results of 99Mtc-MIBI myocardial perfusion ECT and prognosis in 40 patients was observed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in short-term and long-term effective rates among the four groups (P>0.05). There were no differences in the ECT positive rates between the patients with VPB originating from RV and those with VPB originating from LV (P>0.05). The treatment effective rates of ECT-positive patients were higher than the treatment effective rates of ECT-negative ones (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe short-term and long-term prognosis of children with VPB originating from different positions are not significantly different. In children with viral myocarditis induced VPB, positive ECT results suggest a better prognosis.