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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a heart rhythm disorder that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. These rapid heartbeats may trigger a sudden fainting spell or seizure. In some cases, your heart may beat erratically for so long that it can cause sudden death.
You can be born with a genetic mutation that puts you at risk of long QT syndrome. In addition, certain medications and medical conditions may cause long QT syndrome.
Long QT syndrome is treatable. You may need to limit your physical activity, avoid medications known to cause prolonged Q-T intervals or take medications to prevent a chaotic heart rhythm. Some people with long QT syndrome need surgery or an implantable device.
- Ackerman MJ, et al. Congenital long QT syndrome. In: Gussak I, et al. Electrical Diseases of the Heart; Genetics, Mechanisms, Treatment, Prevention. New York, NY.: Springer; 2008:462.
- Priori SG. Genetics of cardiac arrhythmias. In: Libby P, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50012-1--cesec6&uniq=174957165&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=927975209#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50012-1--cesec1%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-4106-1. Accessed Dec. 10, 2009.
- Spazzolini C, et al. Clinical implications for patients with long QT syndrome who experience a cardiac event during infancy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2009;54:832.
- Goldenberg I, et al. Risk factors for aborted cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death in children with the congenital long-QT syndrome. Circulation. 2008;117:2184.
- Hobbs JB, et al. Risk of aborted cardiac arrest of sudden cardiac death during adolescence in the long QT syndrome. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296:1249.
- Sauer AJ, et al. Long QT syndrome in adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2007;49:329.
- Goldenberg I, et al. Long-QT syndrome after age 40. Circulation. 2008;117:2192.
- Johnson JN, et al. Identification of a possible pathogenic link between congenital long QT syndrome and epilepsy. Neurology. 2009;72:224.
- Tester DJ, et al. Cardiomyopathic and channelopathic causes of sudden unexplained death in infants and children. Annual Review of Medicine. 2009;60:69.
- Tester DJ, et al. Effect of clinical phenotype on yield of long QT syndrome genetic testing. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2006;47:764.
- Kapa S, et al. Genetic testing for long QT syndrome - Distinguishing pathogenic mutations from benign variants. Circulation. 2009;120:1752.
- Ackerman MJ, et al. Molecular diagnosis of the inherited long-QT syndrome in a woman who died after near-drowning. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999;341:1121.
- Tester DJ, et al. Postmortem long QT syndrome genetic testing for sudden unexplained death in the young. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2007;49:240.
- Genetic testing: Where to start. The Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation. http://www.sads.org/index.php/General/Where-to-Start.html. Accessed Feb. 6, 2010.
- Taggart NW, et al. Diagnostic miscues in congenital long QT syndrome. Circulation. 2007;115:2613.
- Collura CA, et al. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation for the treatment of long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia using video-assisted thoracic surgery. Heart Rhythm. 2009;6:752.
- Zipes DP, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2005;45:1354.
- Farnsworth MM, et al. When I go in to wake them ... I Wonder: Parental perceptions about congenital long QT syndrome. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2006;18:284.
- Ackerman MJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 1, 2010.
- Anand RG, et al. The role of fish oil in arrhythmia prevention. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. 2008;28:92.
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