Long QT syndrome and life threatening arrhythmia in a newborn: molecular diagnosis and treatment response

E Schulze-Bahr, H Fenge, D Etzrodt, W Haverkamp… - Heart, 2004 - heart.bmj.com
E Schulze-Bahr, H Fenge, D Etzrodt, W Haverkamp, G Mönnig, H Wedekind, G Breithardt…
Heart, 2004heart.bmj.com
Intrauterine and neonatal manifestations of congenital long QT syndrome are associated
with a high cardiac risk, particularly when atrioventricular block and excessive QT
prolongation (> 600 ms1/2) are present. In a female newborn with these features, treatment
with propranolol and mexiletine led to complete reduction of arrhythmia that was maintained
1.5 years later. High throughput genetic analysis found a sodium channel gene (LQT3)
mutation. Disappearance of the 2: 1 atrioventricular block and QTc shortening (from 740 …
Intrauterine and neonatal manifestations of congenital long QT syndrome are associated with a high cardiac risk, particularly when atrioventricular block and excessive QT prolongation (> 600 ms1/2) are present. In a female newborn with these features, treatment with propranolol and mexiletine led to complete reduction of arrhythmia that was maintained 1.5 years later. High throughput genetic analysis found a sodium channel gene (LQT3) mutation. Disappearance of the 2:1 atrioventricular block and QTc shortening (from 740 ms1/2 to 480 ms1/2), however, was achieved when mexiletine was added to propranolol. This effect was considered to be possibly genotype related. Early onset forms of long QT syndrome may benefit from advanced genotyping.
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