[New perspectives in long QT syndrome]

Rev Invest Clin. 2007 Jan-Feb;59(1):57-72.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a cardiac channelopathy characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization and increased risk to sudden death secondary to ventricular dysrrhythmias. Was the first cardiac channelopathy described and is probably the best understood. After a decade of the sentinel identification of ion channel mutation in LQTS, genotype-phenotype correlations have been developed along with important improvement in risk stratification and genetic guided-treatment. Genetic screening has shown that LQTS is more frequent than expected and interestingly, ethnic specific polymorphism conferring increased susceptibility to drug induced QT prolongation and torsades de pointes have been identified. A better understanding of ventricular arrhythmias as an adverse effect of ion channel binding drugs, allow the development of more safety formulas and better control of this public health problem. Progress in understanding the molecular basis of LQTS has been remarkable; eight different genes have been identified, however still 25% of patients remain genotype-negative. This article is an overview of the main LQTS knowledge developed during the last years.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bradycardia / diagnosis
  • Bradycardia / embryology
  • Bradycardia / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology
  • Electric Countershock
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Fetal Diseases / genetics
  • Fetal Heart / physiopathology
  • Ganglionectomy
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Ion Transport / genetics
  • Long QT Syndrome* / chemically induced
  • Long QT Syndrome* / classification
  • Long QT Syndrome* / complications
  • Long QT Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Long QT Syndrome* / embryology
  • Long QT Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Long QT Syndrome* / genetics
  • Long QT Syndrome* / therapy
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Phenotype
  • Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Potassium Channels / physiology
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Sodium Channels / genetics
  • Sodium Channels / physiology
  • Stellate Ganglion / surgery
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology
  • Torsades de Pointes / etiology

Substances

  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Potassium Channels
  • Sodium Channels