[Natural course of Ebstein's anomaly].

The natural course of Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve was studied in 42 conservative patients, their age ranging from 1 day to 38 years at 1st examination (12.3 +/- 1.5 years). Twenty-seven of 42 patients reported for a follow-up check after 3 to 21 years, while the remaining 15 had died as a natural outcome of the defect, heart failure and rhythm disorders being the most common causes of death. The 27 survivors had reached the age of 7-54 years (33.8 +/- 4.2 years), all of them showing a deterioration of the condition and progressing cardiomegaly.