Inherited arrhythmia syndromes

Inherited arrhythmia syndromes

Inherited arrhythmia syndromes

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Long QT Syndrome - The Prolonged Pause

  • Pathophysiology: Inherited disorder of delayed ventricular repolarization from cardiac ion channel mutations (↓ K⁺ efflux or ↑ Na⁺ influx).
  • ECG Hallmark: Rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation.
    • QTc > 450 ms in males
    • QTc > 470 ms in females
  • Clinical Features: Recurrent syncope, seizures, or sudden cardiac death (SCD), often triggered by exercise, emotion, or auditory stimuli.
  • Types:
    • Romano-Ward Syndrome: Autosomal dominant, pure cardiac phenotype.
    • Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome: Autosomal recessive, includes congenital sensorineural deafness.

⭐ The hallmark arrhythmia is Torsades de Pointes (TdP), a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia often leading to ventricular fibrillation.

  • Management:
    • First-line: Beta-blockers (e.g., nadolol, propranolol).
    • High-Risk: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD).
    • AVOID: QT-prolonging drugs (e.g., macrolides, fluoroquinolones, antipsychotics).

Long QT Syndrome and Torsades de Pointes ECG

Brugada Syndrome - Coved Calamity

  • Pathophysiology: Autosomal dominant loss-of-function mutation in sodium channels (most commonly SCN5A gene), leading to ↓ Na⁺ current.
  • Epidemiology: More common in males of Southeast Asian descent.
  • Presentation: Syncope, seizures, or sudden cardiac death (SCD), often nocturnal.

ECG patterns in Brugada syndrome types 1, 2, and 3

  • ECG Findings: Pseudo-RBBB and persistent ST-segment elevation in V1-V2.
    • Type 1: Coved ST elevation (≥2 mm) followed by an inverted T-wave.
    • Type 2/3: Saddleback ST elevation.
  • Triggers: Fever, alcohol, cocaine, and certain medications (e.g., sodium channel blockers, beta-blockers).
  • Management: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the only proven therapy to prevent SCD.

⭐ Often presents as nocturnal sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUNDS), especially in young Asian males.

ARVC & CPVT - The Stress Syndromes

  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC):

    • Autosomal dominant; mutations in desmosomal proteins (e.g., PKP2).
    • Fibrofatty infiltration of the RV myocardium → ventricular arrhythmias & SCD, especially with exertion.
    • ECG: T-wave inversions (V1-V3), prolonged S-wave upstroke, and the pathognomonic Epsilon wave.
    • Tx: Beta-blockers, ICD placement for high-risk patients. ECG showing Epsilon waves in ARVC
  • Catecholaminergic Polymorphic VT (CPVT):

    • Genetic disorder of intracellular calcium handling (RyR2, CASQ2 mutations).
    • Adrenergic stress (exercise, emotion) → massive Ca²⁺ release → delayed afterdepolarizations.
    • Presents with syncope or SCD in childhood/adolescence.
    • Tx: High-dose beta-blockers (nadolol), flecainide; ICD.

⭐ CPVT is classically associated with bidirectional ventricular tachycardia during exercise stress testing.

  • Brugada syndrome shows a coved ST-elevation in leads V1-V3, often triggered by fever.
  • Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) presents with Torsades de Pointes (TdP); avoid QT-prolonging drugs.
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) involves fibrofatty replacement of the RV myocardium and may show an epsilon wave.
  • Catecholaminergic Polymorphic VT (CPVT) causes bidirectional VT with exercise or emotion.
  • These are primarily ion channelopathies that increase risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Practice Questions: Inherited arrhythmia syndromes

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 43-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider with shortness of breath. She reports a 4-month history of progressively worsening difficulty breathing with associated occasional chest pain. She is a long-distance runner but has had trouble running recently due to her breathing difficulties. Her past medical history is notable for well-controlled hypertension for which she takes hydrochlorothiazide. She had a tibial osteosarcoma lesion with pulmonary metastases as a child and successfully underwent chemotherapy and surgical resection. She has a 10 pack-year smoking history but quit 15 years ago. She drinks a glass of wine 3 times per week. Her temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 140/85 mmHg, pulse is 82/min, and respirations are 18/min. On exam, she has increased work of breathing with a normal S1 and loud P2. An echocardiogram in this patient would most likely reveal which of the following?

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Flashcards: Inherited arrhythmia syndromes

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Patients with Brugada syndrome are at increased risk of ventricular _____ and sudden cardiac death (SCD)

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Patients with Brugada syndrome are at increased risk of ventricular _____ and sudden cardiac death (SCD)

tachyarrhythmias

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