Long QT syndrome associated with inflammatory degeneration of the stellate ganglia.

A well-studied case of intermittent long QT syndrome in a 21-year-old female is presented. Electrophysiologic investigation repeated three times revealed changing sinoatrial and atrioventricular dysfunction and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. The patient died 29 months after first hospitalization in a stage of electromechanical dissociation after runs of torsade de pointes although she had been treated with repeated anti-inflammatory therapy as well as high doses of propranolol. Postmortem examination demonstrated active inflammation of stellate ganglia. Myocardium appeared normal.