Pediatric Cohort With Long QT Syndrome - KCNH2 Mutation Carriers Present Late Onset But Severe Symptoms.

BACKGROUND

In children with long QT syndrome (LQTS), risk factors for cardiac events have been reported, but age-, gender- and genotype-related differences in prognosis remain unknown in Asian countries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study examined clinical prognosis at age between 1 and 20 years in 496 LQTS patients who were genotyped as either of LQT1-3 (male, n=206). Heterozygous mutations were observed in 3 major responsible genes:KCNQ1in271,KCNH2in 192, andSCN5Ain 33 patients. LQTS-associated events were classified into 3 categories: (1) syncope (n=133); (2) repetitive torsade de pointes (TdP, n=3); and (3) cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA, n=4). The risk of cardiac events was significantly lower in LQT1 girls than boys≤12 years (HR, 0.55), whereas LQT2 female patients ≥13 years had the higher risk of cardiac events than male patients (HR, 4.60). Patients in the repetitive TdP or CPA group included 1 LQT1 female patient, 1 LQT2 male patient, and 5 LQT2 female patients. All LQT2 patients in these groups had TdP repeatedly immediately after the antecedent event. In addition, all 5 female LQT2 patients in these groups had the event after or near puberty.

CONCLUSIONS

Female LQT2 children might have repeated TdP shortly after prior events, especially after puberty. (Circ J 2016; 80: 696-702).