Abstract
Congenital long QT syndromes (LQTS) and Brugada syndrome are hereditary disorders of cardiac ion channels which result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death in patients with anatomically normal hearts. The pathogenesis of these dramatic events has been partially elucidated with the identification of the individual ion channels involved and understanding of the effect of some disease-causing mutations on the membrane currents and action potential. The clinical spectrum of congenital LQTS is broader than previously thought and involves certain patients previously diagnosed with idiosyncratic drug-induced proarrhythmia. The initial treatment for congenital LQTS patients involves β-blockers in most cases. Indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pace-maker (PM) implantation in selected individuals continue to evolve.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 773-797 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Brugada syndrome
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
- Long QT syndrome
- Torsade de pointes
- l
- l
- l
- β-Blockers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology (medical)