Long QT syndrome - Bench to bedside

Daniela Ponce-Balbuena; Isabelle Deschênes

doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.01.006

Long QT syndrome - Bench to bedside

Heart Rhythm O2. 2021 Jan 22;2(1):89-106. doi: 10.1016/j.hroo.2021.01.006. eCollection 2021 Feb.

Authors

Daniela Ponce-Balbuena¹, Isabelle Deschênes¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Abstract

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a cardiovascular disorder characterized by an abnormality in cardiac repolarization leading to a prolonged QT interval and T-wave irregularities on the surface electrocardiogram. It is commonly associated with syncope, seizures, susceptibility to torsades de pointes, and risk for sudden death. LQTS is a rare genetic disorder and a major preventable cause of sudden cardiac death in the young. The availability of therapy for this lethal disease emphasizes the importance of early and accurate diagnosis. Additionally, understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying LQTS could help to optimize genotype-specific treatments to prevent deaths in LQTS patients. In this review, we briefly summarize current knowledge regarding molecular underpinning of LQTS, in particular focusing on LQT1, LQT2, and LQT3, and discuss novel strategies to study ion channel dysfunction and drug-specific therapies in LQT1, LQT2, and LQT3 syndromes.

Keywords: Genetic variants; Induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM); Long QT syndrome; Potassium channel; Precision medicine; Sodium channel.