Search

AimsArrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is a severe heart disease predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death caused by mutations affecting intercalated disc (ICD) proteins and aggravated by physical exercise. Recently, autoantibodies targeting ICD proteins, including the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 2 (DSG2), were reported in AC patients and were considered relevant for disease development and progression, particularly in patients without underlying pathogenic mutations. However, it is unclear at present whether these autoantibodies are pathogenic and by which mechanisms show specificity for DSG2 and thus can be used as a diagnostic tool.Methods and ResultsIgG fractions were purified from 15 AC patients and 4 healthy controls. Immunostainings dissociation assays, atomic force microscopy (AFM), western blot analysis and Triton-X-100 assays were performed utilizing human heart left ventricle tissue, HL-1 cells, and murine cardiac slices. Immunostainings revealed that autoantibodies against ICD proteins are prevalent in AC and most autoantibody fractions have catalytic properties and cleave the ICD adhesion molecules DSG2 and N-cadherin, thereby reducing cadherin interactions as revealed by AFM. Furthermore, most of the AC-IgG fractions causing loss of cardiomyocyte cohesion activated p38MAPK, which is known to contribute to a loss of desmosomal adhesion in different cell types, including cardiomyocytes. In addition, p38MAPK inhibition rescued the loss of cardiomyocyte cohesion induced by AC-IgGs.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that catalytic autoantibodies play a pathogenic role by cleaving ICD cadherins and thereby reducing cardiomyocyte cohesion by a mechanism involving p38MAPK activation. Finally, we conclude that DSG2 cleavage by autoantibodies could be used as a diagnostic tool for AC.

The KCNQ1 gene encodes the α-subunit of the cardiac voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel KCNQ1, also denoted as Kv7.1 or KvLQT1. The channel assembles with the ß-subunit KCNE1, also known as minK, to generate the slowly activating cardiac delayed rectifier current IKs, a key regulator of the heart rate dependent adaptation of the cardiac action potential duration (APD). Loss-of-function variants in KCNQ1 cause the congenital Long QT1 (LQT1) syndrome, characterized by delayed cardiac repolarization and a QT interval prolongation in the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Autosomal dominant loss-of-function variants in KCNQ1 result in the LQT syndrome called Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS), while autosomal recessive variants affecting function, lead to Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), associated with deafness. The aim of this study was the characterization of novel KCNQ1 variants identified in patients with RWS to widen the spectrum of known LQT1 variants, and improve the interpretation of the clinical relevance of variants in the KCNQ1 gene. We functionally characterized nine human KCNQ1 variants using the voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus laevis oocytes, from which we report seven novel variants. The functional data was taken as input to model surface ECGs, to subsequently compare the functional changes with the clinically observed QTc times, allowing a further interpretation of the severity of the different LQTS variants. We found that the electrophysiological properties of the variants correlate with the severity of the clinically diagnosed phenotype in most cases, however, not in all. Electrophysiological studies combined with in silico modelling approaches are valuable components for the interpretation of the pathogenicity of KCNQ1 variants, but assessing the clinical severity demands the consideration of other factors that are included, for example in the Schwartz score.

The number of cardiologically relevant genetic findings will continue to increase. This is due to the use of high-throughput sequencing techniques and the critical role of incidental findings in cardiac disease genes. Telemedicine can be a useful diagnostic tool to monitor the heart rhythm of patients with inborn cardiac diseases.Patients were screened once they had been referred to our outpatient department for rare cardiac diseases between January 2020 and May 2022. Those patients who underwent genetic testing and were consequently diagnosed with a genetic disorder were included in this study. Their medical records were evaluated regarding implanted cardiac electronic devices and findings in the telemedical monitoring.304 patients were seen in our outpatient department for rare cardiac diseases in the mentioned period. In 100 cases, genetic testing was performed. 10 patients (10%) with an identified inborn cardiac disease were monitored via telemedicine until the end of May 2022. 4 patients were monitored by implantable loop recorders (ILR), 4 patients were monitored by Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD), and 2 patients received both devices. Clinical relevant arrhythmias making medical intervention necessary were identified in 4 cases. In two cases, data interpretation was hampered by sinus tachycardia caused by physical exercise.Telemonitoring of the heart rhythm by medical devices is beneficial for patients with monogenic heart diseases. Especially, when the indication for an ICD is not clear, implantation of a telemonitored ILR can be a suitable choice. However, rhythm analysis can be challenging in young patients who are physically active.

Aims Impaired myocardial sympathetic innervation assessed by 123Iodine-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy is associated with cardiac events. Since regional disparities of structural abnormalities are common in inherited arrhythmia syndromes (iAS), a chamber-specific innervation assessment of the right (RV) and left ventricle (LV) could provide important insights for a patient-individual therapy. Aim of this study was to evaluate chamber-specific patterns of autonomic innervation by Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in patients with iAS with respect to clinical outcome regarding cardiac events. Methods and results We assessed ventricular sympathetic innervation (LV, RV and planar heart/mediastinum-ratios, and washout-rates) by 123I-MIBG-SPECT/CT in 48 patients (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy [ARVC], n = 26; laminopathy, n = 8; idiopathic ventricular fibrillation [iVF], n = 14) in relation to a composite clinical endpoint (ventricular arrhythmia; cardiac death; cardiac hospitalization). RV tracer uptake was lower in patients with ARVC than in laminopathy and iVF patients (1.7 ± 0.4 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7 and 2.1 ± 0.5, respectively). Over a median follow-up of 2.2 years, the combined endpoint was met in 18 patients (n = 12 ventricular tachyarrhythmias, n = 5 hospitalizations, n = 1 death). LV, but not RV H/M ratio was associated with the combined endpoint (hazard-ratio 2.82 [1.30–6.10], p Conclusion We demonstrated that chamber-specific 123MIBG-SPECT/CT imaging is feasible and that reduced LV sympathetic innervation was associated with worse outcome in iAS. These findings provide novel insights into the potential role of regional autonomic nervous system heterogeneity for the evolution of life-threatening cardiac events in iAS.

Introduction: The standard obstetric definition of fetal bradycardia is a sustained fetal heart rate < 110 bpm over at least 10 min. Fetal bradycardia can be the first and only prenatal presentation of a heart disease. We present an overview on different genetic disorders that should be taken into consideration in case of diagnosed fetal bradycardia. Methods: A literature review was conducted using a PubMed- and OMIM-based search for monogenetic disorders causing fetal bradycardia in September 2022. Results: The review on the literature identified nine monogenic diseases that could lead to fetal bradycardia. Four of these disorders can be associated with extracardiac findings. Discussion: Genetic testing should be considered in cases with fetal bradycardia, especially in cases of additional extracardiac findings. Broad sequencing techniques and improved prenatal phenotyping could help to establish a diagnosis in an increasing number of cases.

ZusammenfassungSeit Februar 2010 ist das Gendiagnostikgesetz in Kraft getreten. Das grundsätzlich begrüßenswerte Gesetz bereitet jedoch bei gesetzeskonformer Umsetzung im klinischen Alltag zum Teil erhebliche Probleme. Einige dieser Schwierigkeiten sollen im Folgenden angesprochen werden.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major cause of death in industrial countries. Although SCD occurs mainly in adults, it may also affect young persons, where genetic cardiac disorders comprise at least half of these cases. This includes primary arrhythmogenic disorders such as long QT syndrome and inherited cardiomyopathies. However, in many cases, postmortem examinations provide no conclusive results explaining the cause of death. Since family members of the deceased may eventually have inherited the same disease, they are at risk of SCD. In the present study, 28 patients with a family history of sudden unexplained death (SUD), of survived cardiac arrest and with a clinical diagnosis of an inherited cardiac disease were screened using phenotype-guided molecular analysis of genes associated with arrhythmogenic cardiac diseases. In 64% of the cases, gene variants with potentially pathogenic cardiac effects were detected suggesting that an arrhythmia syndrome may have caused the death of the deceased family member. Therefore, we recommend that relatives of SUD victims should undergo extended cardiac examination and, depending on the clinical diagnosis, a targeted genetic analysis should follow, which is crucial to identify family members at risk.

Impaired myocardial sympathetic innervation assessed byWe assessed ventricular sympathetic innervation (LV, RV and planar heart/mediastinum-ratios, and washout-rates) byWe demonstrated that chamber-specific

Cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young and apparently healthy individuals represent a devastating event in affected families. Hereditary arrhythmia syndromes, which include primary electrical heart disorders as well as cardiomyopathies, are known to contribute to a significant number of these sudden death cases. We performed postmortem genetic analyses in young sudden death cases (aged45years) by means of a defined gene panel using massive parallel sequencing (MPS). The data were evaluated bioinformatically and detected sequence variants were assessed using common databases and applying in silico prediction tools. In this study, we identified variants with likely pathogenic effect in 6 of 9 sudden unexpected death (SUD) cases. Due to the detection of numerous unknown and unclassified variants, interpretation of the results proved to be challenging. However, by means of an appropriate evaluation of the findings, MPS represents an important tool to support the forensic investigation and implies great progress for relatives of young SCD victims facilitating adequate risk stratification and genetic counseling.

Aims The early repolarization pattern (ERP) has been shown to be associated with arrhythmias in patients with short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and ischaemic heart disease. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited arrhythmia syndrome and related to malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias in a structurally normal heart. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ERP and clinical events in patients with CPVT. Methods and results Digitalized resting 12-lead ECGs of patients were analysed for ERP and for repolarization markers (QT and T peak– T end interval). The ERP was diagnosed as ‘notching’ or ‘slurring’ at the terminal portion of QRS with ≥0.1 mV elevation in at least two consecutive inferior (II, III, aVF) and/or lateral leads (V4–V6, I, aVL). Among 51 CPVT patients (mean age 36 ± 15 years, 11 males), the ERP was present in 23 (45%): strictly in the inferior leads in 9 (18%) patients, in the lateral leads in 9 (18%) patients, and in infero-lateral leads in 5 (10%) patients. All patients with ERP were symptomatic at presentation (23 of 23 patients with ERP vs. 19 of 28 patients without ERP, P = 0.003). Syncope was also more frequent in patients with ERP (18 of 23 patients with ERP vs. 11 of 28 patients without ERP, P = 0.005). Conclusion A pathologic ERP is present in an unexpected large proportion (45%) of patients and is associated with an increased frequency of syncope. In patients with unexplained syncope and ERP at baseline, exercise testing should be performed to detect CPVT.

Die hypertrophe Kardiomyopathie (HCM) hat eine Pravalenz von ca. 0,2% und verlauft in vielen Fallen zeitlebens klinisch asymptomatisch. Falls es zur Ausbildung von Symptomen kommt, sind diese oft unspezifisch. Dies erklart den Stellenwert der Bildgebung bei der Erstdiagnose und Verlaufsbeurteilung der HCM. Leitbefund ist eine myokardiale Hypertrophie mit Wanddicken von ≥ 15 mm. Wahrend die Echokardiographie ein hervorragendes Screeningverfahren ist, erlaubt die MRT eine umfassende Feindiagnostik bei der HCM, zu der gezahlt werden: eine genaue Darstellung des Verteilungsmusters und des Schweregrads der Hypertrophie, eine detaillierte Analyse der linksventrikularen systolischen und diastolischen Funktion, eine Beurteilung und Quantifizierung einer moglichen dynamischen Obstruktion des linksventrikularen Ausflusstrakts sowie einer moglichen verfruhten Offnung der Mitralklappe (SAM-Phanomen, „systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve“). Zusatzlich konnen bei Kontrastmittelgabe der Status der myokardialen Perfusion sowie das Vorliegen und der Schweregrad einer myokardialen Fibrose beurteilt werden. Wir haben untersucht, ob sich Patienten mit und ohne globale diastolische Dysfunktion in den systolischen Funktionsparametern oder hinsichtlich der endsystolischen bzw. enddiastolischen Myokarddicke des Septums oder der lateralen Wand unterscheiden.

SCN5A encodes for the α-subunit of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.5. Gain-of-function mutations in SCN5A are related to congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS3) characterized by delayed cardiac repolarization, leading to a prolonged QT interval in the ECG. Loss-of-function mutations in SCN5A are related to Brugada syndrome (BrS), characterized by an ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads (V1-V3). The aim of this study was the characterization of a large set of novel SCN5A variants found in patients with different cardiac phenotypes, mainly LQTS and BrS. SCN5A variants of 13 families were functionally characterized in Xenopus laevis oocytes using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. We found in most of the cases, but not all, that the electrophysiology of the variants correlated with the clinically diagnosed phenotype. A susceptibility to develop LQTS can be suggested in patients carrying the variants S216L, K480N, A572D, F816Y, and G983D. However, taking the phenotype into account, the presence of the variants in genomic data bases, the mutational segregation, combined with our in vitro and in silico experiments, the variants S216L, S262G, K480N, A572D, F816Y, G983D, and T1526P remain as variants of unknown significance. However, the SCN5A variants R568H and A993T can be classified as pathogenic LQTS3 causing mutations, while R222stop and R2012H are novel BrS causing mutations.

Bereits heute spielt die molekulargenetische Untersuchung bei der Aufklarung eines moglichen familiaren Arrhythmiesyndroms eine wichtige Rolle. Der vorliegende Beitrag erlautert die aktuellen Entwicklungen sowie die heute bereits verfugbaren und sinnvollen Einsatzmoglichkeiten von Gentests in diesem Rahmen. Ebenso werden die Grenzen der genetischen Diagnostik aufgezeigt. Grundsatzlich sind Gentests bei der Diagnostik angeborener Arrhythmiesyndrome nie isoliert, sondern nur im Kontext mit den klinischen Befunden der Patienten interpretierbar.

Wir berichten uber einen 22-jahrigen Leistungssportler mit asymptomatischen nachtlichen Sinuspausen bis zu 7,3 s sowie inadaquaten Sinustachykardien. In der durchgefuhrten Diagnostik inklusive Magnetresonanztomographie, Linksherzkatheteruntersuchung und elektrophysiologischer Untersuchung fanden sich keine Hinweise auf eine strukturelle Herzerkrankung oder eine spezifische Erkrankung des Reizbildungs- oder Reizleitungssystems. Deshalb entschieden wir uns bei dem jungen Patienten gegen die Implantation eines Herzschrittmachers. Nach 14 Monaten zeigen sich unverandert die asymptomatischen Pausen.

AIMS: The Brugada syndrome is a rare, potentially fatal primary cardiomyopathy. Patients are identified by symptoms and typical electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns. Prevalence of spontaneous Brugada ECG patterns in the general population is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 12-lead resting ECGs of 4149 men and women aged 25-74 years from the population-based KORA Study. Computer-assisted analysis identified ECGs with J-point elevation in leads V1-V3 and QRS duration

Apart from clinical symptoms the diagnosis and risk stratification in long-QT syndrome (LQTS) is usually based on the surface electrocardiogram. Studies have indicated that not only prolongation of the QT interval but also an increased short-term variability of QT interval (STV(QT)) is a marker for a decreased repolarization reserve in patients with drug-induced LQTS. The aims of this study were to determine if STV(QT) (1) is higher in patients with LQTS compared with controls, (2) if this effect is more pronounced in a high-risk LQTS population, and (3) could increase the diagnostic power of the surface electrocardiogram in identifying mutation carriers. Forty mutation carriers were compared with age- and gender-matched control subjects in the absence of beta-receptor-blocking agents. Lead II or V(5) RR and QT intervals from 30 consecutive beats were manually measured. STV(QT) was determined from Poincaré plots of QT intervals (STV(QT) = Sigma|QTn + 1 - QTn|/[30 x radical2]). Compared with controls, patients with LQTS had a prolonged QTc interval (449 +/- 41 vs 411 +/- 32 ms, p = 0.00049) and increased STV(QT) (6.4 +/- 3.2 vs 4.1 +/- 1.6 ms, p = 0.005). In patients with the highest risk of clinical events, defined as a QTc interval500 ms or symptoms before beta-blocker therapy, STV(QT) was 9 +/- 4 ms. QTc interval had a sensitivity of 43% and a specificity of 97% in identifying mutation carriers (thresholds 450 ms for men and 460 ms for women). Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that an STV(QT) of 4.9 ms was the optimal cut-off value to predict mutation carriers. When incorporating an STV(QT)4.9 ms for those whose QTc interval was within the normal limits, sensitivity to distinguish mutation carriers increased to 83% with a specificity of 68%, so that another 15 mutation carriers could be identified. In conclusion, these are the first results in humans showing that STV(QT) is increased in congenital LQTS, this effect is increased in patients with symptoms before therapy, and, hence, STV(QT) could prove to be a useful noninvasive additive marker for diagnostic screening to bridge the gap before results of genetic testing are available.

Aims Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in humans. Rare familial forms exist. Recent evidence indicates a genetic susceptibility to common forms of AF. The α-subunit of the myocardial IKr-channel, encoded by the KCNH2 gene, is crucial to ventricular and atrial repolarization. Patients with mutations in KCNH2 present with higher incidence of AF. Common variants in KCNH2 have been shown to modify ventricular repolarization. We intended to investigate, whether such variants may also modulate atrial repolarization and predispose to AF. Methods and results In a two-stage association study we analysed 1207 AF-cases and 2475 controls. In stage I 40 tagSNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) from the KCNH2 genomic region were genotyped in 671 AF-cases and 694 controls. Of five associated variants, the common K897-allele of the KCNH2 -K897T variant was replicated in n = 536 independent AF cases and n = 1781 controls in stage II [overall odds ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.41, P = 0.00033]. This association remained significant after adjustment for gender and age. Conclusion We report a genetic association finding including positive replication between the K897-allele and higher incidence of AF. This provides a molecular correlate for complex genetic predispositions to AF. The consequences of the K897T variant at the atrial level will require further functional investigations.

AIMS: Torsades de pointes arrhythmias (TdP) occur by definition in the setting of prolonged QT intervals. Animal models of drug induced Long-QT syndrome (dLQTS) have shown higher predictive value for proarrhythmia with beat-to-beat variability of repolarization duration (BVR) when compared with QT intervals. Here, we evaluate variability of QT intervals in patients with a history of drug-induced long QT syndrome (dLQTS) and TdP in absence of a mutation in any of the major LQTS genes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty patients with documented TdP under drugs with QT-prolonging potential were compared with 20 matched control individuals. An observer blinded to diagnosis manually measured lead-II, RR, and QT intervals from 30 consecutive beats. BVR was determined from Poincare plots of QT intervals as short-term variability (STV(QT) = Sigma|QT(n)(+1) - QT(n)|/[30 x radical2]). QRS interval and cycle length was comparable between study groups and controls. No difference was found in QTc between dLQTS and controls (428 +/- 25 vs. 421 +/- 34 ms, P = 0.26), whereas STV(QT) was significantly higher in dLQTS when compared with controls (8.1 +/- 3.7 vs. 3.6 +/- 1.3 ms, P = 0.001). Proarrhythmic predictive power of STV(QT) was superior to that of the QTc interval (AUC: 0.89 vs. 0.57, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99 vs. 0.39-0.75). CONCLUSION: In the absence of QTc prolongation, baseline STV(QT) characterized patients with documented drug-induced proarrhythmia. STV(QT) could prove to be a useful non-invasive, easily obtainable parameter aiding the identification of the patient at risk for potentially life threatening arrhythmia in the context of drugs with QT prolonging potential.

Aims Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (iVF) accounts for up to 14% of VF incidence. Data regarding long-term outcome and clinical risk markers of arrhythmia recurrence are scarce. The objective of our study was to describe a long-term follow-up (FU) of a cohort of iVF survivors in our centre during the past 20 years, and to investigate the influence of clinical parameters, e.g. presence of an early repolarization pattern (ERP), on recurrence rate of arrhythmias. Methods and results Thirty-five iVF survivors were identified and retrospectively analysed regarding recurrent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) interventions and covariates potentially influencing arrhythmia recurrence. Appropriate ICD interventions occurred in 15 patients (43%) after a median of 6.6 years during a median FU period of 8.8 years. Two patients (13%) received the first appropriate therapy after an assumed average ICD battery longevity of 7 years, while in all other patients, the first therapy occurred within the first ICD period. Appropriate interventions were observed more often and earlier in patients with ERP (HR 3.9; 1.4–11.0; P = 0.01), whereas all other covariates failed to predict subsequent events. A high incidence of inappropriate ICD therapies (67 interventions in 14 patients) could be attributed to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (66% of all inappropriate therapies). Conclusion The recurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmias in iVF survivors is high and recurrence might occur delayed (>7 years after the initial event). ERP seems to be highly predictive with respect to early arrhythmia recurrence. Our results highlight that better pathophysiologic understanding of ERP might facilitate a better risk stratification before and an optimal treatment after an iVF event. The high rate of AF and ERP in iVF survivors might indicate an underlying heart disease or myocardial electrical disorder not apparent at the index event. [10.1093/europace/euv322][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1093/europace/euv322

Vorgestellt wird der Fall eines 27-jahrigen Mannes, der im Rahmen eines fieberhaften Infekts synkopiert ist. Ein vom Notarzt geschriebenes 12-Kanal-EKG zeigte – typisch fur ein Brugada-Syndrom – einen erhohten ST-Abgang in den Ableitungen V1–V3. Unter fiebersenkender Therapie bildeten sich die EKG-Veranderungen zuruck. Die Diagnose Brugada-Syndrom konnte durch einen Ajmalintest bestatigt werden. Hierbei handelt es sich um eine seltene arrhythmogene Erkrankung, die in 30% der Falle mit einer Mutation im SCN5A-Gen assoziiert ist, welches fur den myokardialen Natriumkanal kodiert. Dem Patienten wurde nach auffalliger elektrophysiologischer Untersuchung ein implantierbarer Kardioverter/Defibrillator (ICD) implantiert.

1.3 Name of the analysed genes or DNA/chromosome segments LQT1: KCNQ1, 11p15.5; LQT2: KCNH2, 7q35-q36; LQT3: SCN5A, 3p21; LQT4: ANK2, 4q25-q27; LQT5: KCNE1, 21q22.1-q22.2; LQT6: KCNE2, 21q22.1; LQT7: KCNJ2, 17q23.1-q24.2; LQT8: CACNA1C, 12p13.3; LQT9: CAV3, 3p25; LQT10: SCN4B, 11q23; LQT11: AKAP9, 7q21-q22; LQT12: SNTA1, 20q11.2; LQT13: KCNJ5, 11q24; JLNS1: KCNQ1, homozygous or compound heterozygous, 11p15.5; JLNS2: KCNE1, homozygous or compound heterozygous, 21q22.

Genetic testing already has a substantial impact in identifying hereditary arrhythmia syndromes after sudden death in young patients. This report provides information on current developments, available options and reasonable approaches in the clinical setting. In addition the limitations of genetic testing are discussed. Genetic testing is only useful for patients in the context of clinical findings interpreted by an experienced cardiogenetics team.

Background The incidence of sudden cardiac death in persons under age 40 is roughly 3 per 100 000 persons per year in Germany and North America. Many of these deaths are found to be due to hereditary heart diseases, often a primary structural heart disease associated with arrhythmia or else a primary arrhythmia syndrome in a structurally normal heart. Such diseases are usually of autosomal dominant inheritance, often affect otherwise healthy persons, and can generally be well treated if recognized early. Patients commonly have affected relatives who are still asymptomatic. Methods This review is based on articles up to May 2010 that were retrieved by a selective search of the Medline database via PubMed, with additional consideration of the relevant European and American guidelines and the German Law on Genetic Diagnosis. Results and conclusion Hereditary arrhythmia syndromes are now found in more than half of all initially unexplained cases of sudden cardiac death in young persons. Among such cases, the hereditary arrhythmia syndrome is primary in 70% and caused by an arrhythmogenic structural heart disease in 30%. In addition to autopsy findings, a thorough family history, relevant medical findings obtained during life (if available), the examination of relatives, and directed molecular testing where appropiate enabled establishing the diagnosis. Arrthymia syndromes that can cause sudden death are often detectable during life if physicians and the public are appropriately sensitized.

A 45-year-old woman, who had received a single-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) due to ventricular fibrillation 5 years ago, was admitted for catheter ablation of incessant right ventricular outflow tract bigeminy. After successful ablation recurrent torsades de pointes associated with a prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval were initiated by polymorphic premature ventricular complexes. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense mutation in the SCN5A-gene (p.Arg190Gln, Exon 5), consistent with long QT-syndrome 3. DDDR pacing following implantation of an atrial lead prevented further ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and has a substantial heritable component. Numerous associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and AF have been described, but few have been replicated.We sought to systematically replicate SNPs that are reported to be associated with AF in two large study samples of European descent.We searched PubMed for studies reporting associations between SNPs and AF published before July 1, 2007. SNPs were genotyped in two independent case-control samples from Germany and the United States. Associations between SNPs and AF were assessed using logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and hypertension. A meta-analysis of the results from the two studies was performed.We identified 21 SNPs and the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism that were reported to be associated with AF in the literature. Nine of these genetic variants were not represented on common genome-wide SNP arrays. We successfully genotyped 21 of these 22 variants in 2,145 cases with AF from the German Competence Network for Atrial Fibrillation and 4,073 controls from the KORA S4 study and 16 variants in 790 cases and 1,330 controls from the Massachusetts General Hospital. None of the SNPs replicated in independent populations with AF.Our results suggest that previously reported associations to AF were likely false positives and highlight the need for systematic replication of genetic associations in large, independent cohorts to accurately detect variants associated with disease.

In a population-based cohort study of middle-aged people in Central Europe, Stefan Kääb and colleagues find an association between electrocardiographic early repolarization pattern and mortality risk., Background Early repolarization pattern (ERP) on electrocardiogram was associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest in a case-control study and with cardiovascular mortality in a Finnish community-based sample. We sought to determine ERP prevalence and its association with cardiac and all-cause mortality in a large, prospective, population-based case-cohort study (Monitoring of Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions [MONICA]/KORA [Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg]) comprised of individuals of Central-European descent. Methods and Findings Electrocardiograms of 1,945 participants aged 35–74 y, representing a source population of 6,213 individuals, were analyzed applying a case-cohort design. Mean follow-up was 18.9 y. Cause of death was ascertained by the 9th revision of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) codes as documented in death certificates. ERP-attributable effects on mortality were determined by a weighted Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for covariables. Prevalence of ERP was 13.1% in our study. ERP was associated with cardiac and all-cause mortality, most pronounced in those of younger age and male sex; a clear ERP-age interaction was detected (p = 0.005). Age-stratified analyses showed hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiac mortality of 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–3.68, p = 0.035) for both sexes and 2.65 (95% CI 1.21–5.83, p = 0.015) for men between 35–54 y. An inferior localization of ERP further increased ERP-attributable cardiac mortality to HRs of 3.15 (95% CI 1.58–6.28, p = 0.001) for both sexes and to 4.27 (95% CI 1.90–9.61, p, Editors' Summary Background Cardiovascular diseases—disorders that affect the heart and the circulation—are the leading cause of death in the developed world. About half of cardiovascular deaths occur when the heart suddenly stops pumping (sudden cardiac arrest). The muscular walls of the four heart chambers contract in a set pattern to pump blood around the body. The heart's internal electrical system controls the rate and rhythm of these contractions and, if this system goes wrong, an abnormal heart beat or “arrhythmia” develops. Some arrhythmias—in particular, ventricular fibrillation in which the walls of the two lower heart chambers quiver or “fibrillate” instead of pumping—can cause sudden cardiac arrest and immediate loss of consciousness. Death follows within minutes in 95% of cases but immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; chest compression to pump the heart and inflation of the lungs by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) can keep a person alive until a defibrillator can be used to restore the normal heart beat. People who survive sudden cardiac arrest can be given anti-arrhythmia drugs or have a pacemaker implanted to stabilize their heart beat. Why Was This Study Done? The beating heart generates tiny electric waves that can be detected by electrodes on the skin. The pattern of these waves (an electrocardiogram or ECG) provides information about the heart's health. One wave pattern that is often seen on ECGs is the “early repolarization pattern” (ERP), which some studies suggest is associated with an increased risk of cardiac death. Here, the researchers investigate the prevalence of ERP (the proportion of a population with ERP) and its association with death from heart-related problems (cardiac mortality) and from any cause (all-cause mortality) in the MONICA/KORA prospective, population-based case-cohort study. The MONICA Project (MONitoring of Trends and Determinants in CArdiovascular Disease) has studied cardiovascular disease in 10 million people in 21 countries; KORA denotes the study done in the Augsburg region of Germany. In a prospective study, specific baseline characteristics of the study's participants are determined and the participants are followed to see who experiences a predefined outcome. A case-cohort study investigates a randomly selected subcohort (subgroup) of the original participants of a study and any participants who experience the predefined outcome instead of all the participants. What Did the Researchers Do and Find? The researchers selected 1945 MONIKA/KORA participants aged 35–74 years from a source population of about 6,000 people using a case-cohort study design. They analyzed the ECGs (recorded in 1984–1985 or 1989–1990) of this subcohort and ascertained the cause of death for those participants who died during the 18.9 year average follow-up. The overall prevalence of ERP in the study was 13.1%, report the researchers, and ERP was associated with cardiac mortality, particularly among younger and male participants. Specifically, among men and women aged 35–54 years, having ERP was associated with a nearly doubled risk of cardiac death. Among men aged 35–54 years, having ERP was associated with an increase in the risk of cardiac death by 2.65-fold. An ERP localized to the bottom of the heart (inferior localization) was associated with an increased risk of cardiac death among both sexes by more than 3-fold and among men by more than 4-fold in this age group. Finally, ERP was also significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality but less strongly than with cardiac mortality. What Do These Findings Mean? These findings suggest that the prevalence of ERP among the middle-aged people in the MONICA/KORA study is high (and somewhat higher than previously reported). They also show a clear association between ERP and the risk of cardiac death among 35–54-year-old people, particularly among men, but because of the study design, these findings do not show that ERP actually causes cardiac death; it could simply be a susceptibility marker. The researchers note that the increased risk of cardiac death associated with ERP is of a similar size to that associated with some other ECG abnormalities. However, although it might be worth paying special attention to young people with an inferior localization of ERP, finding ERP in a person without symptoms and without a family history of sudden cardiac death should not lead to further investigations or any preventative therapy, they suggest, because the absolute risk of cardiac arrest in such people is very low. Additional Information Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000314. The US National Heart Lung and Blood Institute provides information on cardiovascular conditions, including sudden cardiac arrest and on arrhythmias The American Heart Association also information on sudden cardiac death and on arrhythmias The German Cardiac Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Kardiologie) and the German Heart Foundation (Deutsche Herzstiftung) provide further information (in German) on cardiovascular conditions The Heart Rhythm Foundation provides information on all aspects of heart arrhythmia The Fondation Leducq Alliance Against Sudden Cardiac Death provides information on sudden cardiac arrest MedlinePlus provides links to other resources about cardiac arrest and arrhythmias (in English and Spanish) The MedlinePlus Encyclopedia has a page on electrocardiograms (in English and Spanish) The Nobel Foundation provides an interactive electrocardiogram game More information about the MONICA project and the KORA Study or is available

The high incidence of sudden cardiac death in heart failure (HF) reflects electrophysiologic changes in response to myocardial failure. We previously showed that short-term variability of QT intervals (STV(QT)) identifies latent repolarization disorders in patients with drug-induced or congenital long QT syndrome. This study sought to determine (1) if STV(QT) is increased in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) and moderate congestive HF and (2) if increased STV(QT) is associated with ventricular arrhythmia in patients with HF. Sixty patients (53 +/- 12 years of age, 14 women) with DC and moderate HF (New York Heart Association classes II to III) were compared to matched controls. Twenty patients had implantable cardiac defibrillators secondary to a history of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Two cardiologists blinded to diagnosis manually measured QT intervals. Beat-to-beat variability of repolarization was determined from Poincaré plots of 30 consecutive QT intervals as was STV(QT). QTc intervals were comparable in patients and controls (419 +/- 36 vs 415 +/- 32 ms, respectively, p0.05), whereas STV(QT) was significantly higher in patients with HF (7.8 +/- 3 vs 4.1 +/- 2 ms, respectively, p0.05). STV(QT) was more increased in patients with a history of VT compared to those without VT (10.1 +/- 2 vs 6.6 +/- 2 ms, respectively, p0.05). Increased STV(QT) and decreased ejection fraction were associated with a history of VT; however, STV(QT) was the strongest indicator. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that STV(QT) is increased in patients with DC with HF. Patients with DC and HF and implantable cardiac defibrillators for secondary prevention had the highest STV(QT). Thus, increased STV(QT) in the context of moderate HF may reflect a latent repolarization disorder and increased susceptibility to sudden death in patients with DC, which is not identified by a prolonged QT interval.

Background: The long-QT syndromes (LQTS) are inherited electrical cardiomyopathies characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization and ventricular arrhythmias. Several genetic reports have associated defects in LQTS-causing genes with atrial fibrillation (AF). We therefore studied whether atrial arrhythmias occur in patients with LQTS under daily-life conditions. Methods: We systematically assessed atrial arrhythmias in LQTS patients and matched controls using implanted defibrillators or pacemakers as monitors of atrial rhythm in a nested case-control study. Twenty-one LQTS patients (3 male; 39 ± 18 years old; 18 on β blocker, ICD therapy duration 6.3 ± 2.7 years; 4 LQT1, 6 LQT2, 2 LQT3) were matched to 21 control subjects (13 male; 50 ± 19 years old; 3 on β blocker; pacemaker therapy duration 8.5 ± 5.5 years; 19 higher-degree AV block, 2 others). LQTS patients were identified by a systematic search of the LQTS patient databases in Munster and Munich. Results: One-third (7 of 21) of the LQTS patients developed self-terminating atrial arrhythmias (atrial cycle lengths

A 36-year-old patient was admitted after successful resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation. The patient recovered without neurological sequelae. Cardiological examination including QTc interval, ajmaline testing, echocardiography, coronary angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed no abnormal findings. The patient received a dual-chamber ICD …