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Congenital Long QT Syndrome in an Infant Cover

Abstract

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of myocardial repolarization characterized by prolonged QT interval on ECG with prevalence close to 1/3000-1/5000. LQTS is characterized by the occurrence of syncopal episodes due to torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia (VT) and by a high risk for sudden cardiac death among untreated patients (1, 2, 3). In 12% of patients with LQTS, sudden death is the first manifestation of the disease and only in 4% this happens in the first year of life (2). There is consensus that all symptomatic children with LQTS should be treated with β-blockers which are effective in preventing cardiac events and reducing mortality in 70%, but do not protect patients from sudden death completely (1,2,3,4). The prognosis is poor in untreated patients with annual mortality 20% and 10 year mortality up to 50% (1, 2). Here we present a case of relatively rare congenital heart rhythm disorders in an infant which required immediate treatment.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10163-010-0023-4 | Journal eISSN: 2199-5737 | Journal ISSN: 1407-981X
Language: English
Page range: 111 - 112
Published on: Aug 18, 2010
Published by: Riga Stradins University
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2010 Aris Lacis, Inga Lace, Elina Teivane, Vita Knauere, Inguna Lubaua, Inta Bergmane, Valts Ozolins, Lauris Smits, Normunds Sikora, published by Riga Stradins University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.

Volume 9 (2009): Issue 1 (December 2009)