title: The molecular genetics of the long QT syndrome: genes causing fainting and sudden death.
abstract: The congenital long QT syndrome is an autosomal-dominant genetic disorder of cardiac electrical repolarization. It is caused by mutations of at least six genes, of which four, all encoding for cardiac ion channels, have been identified: KVLQT1, HERG, and Min K encode for cardiac potassium ion channels, and SCN5A encodes for the cardiac sodium ion channel. In each case the altered ion channel function produces prolongation of the action potential and propensity to torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia. A fifth gene locus is known to be on chromosome 4, but the gene has not been isolated. At least one other gene must exist, and there may be several more. Long QT syndrome is a frequent but often overlooked cause of unexpected syncope and sudden death in children and young adults. Characteristic findings are prolongation of the QT interval and T wave abnormalities on the electrocardiogram. However, the QT interval at presentation is normal about 10% of the time and just borderline prolonged another 30%, so diagnosis may be difficult. Symptoms are syncope and sudden death, typically occurring during exercise or emotional upset. The manifestations vary, depending on the genotype present. The phenotype also probably varies, depending on the specific mutation involved. Phenotypic heterogeneity is also caused by variable penetrance and expressivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah 84143, USA. ldgvince@IHC.com
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002648:Child; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D015870:Gene Expression; D005799:Genes, Dominant / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D010641:Phenotype; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C072312:ERG protein, human; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; C568320:SCN5A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG