Low incidence of cardiac events with beta-blocking therapy in children with long QT syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of beta-blockers in children with long QT syndrome (LQTS) we reviewed the outcome of 122 patients (pts).


METHODS
LQTS was diagnosed in 24 neonates and in 98 pts aged 0.5-15 years. Diagnosis was made because of syncope in 51 pts, bradycardia in 10 neonates and family history in 61 pts. The longest QTc ranged from 400 to 700 ms. Thirteen pts had 2:1 atrioventricular block and/or ventricular arrhythmias. Screening for mutations was performed in 118 pts. All children were treated with beta-blockers, annually checked by exercise testing and/or 24 h ECG monitoring.


RESULTS
Four pts died. Survivors were followed-up for 1-18 years (7.5 +/- 5.3 years). Five neonates and 3 older pts received a prophylactic pacemaker (1 death) so that only 111/122 pts survived and were followed-up with beta-blockers alone. None of them died and five experienced a non-fatal cardiac event. There was no cardiac event among pts who were diagnosed because of familial history and among symptomatic KCNQ1 pts who were effectively treated with beta-blockers.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of children with LQTS under effective beta-blockers is favourable. Persisting arrhythmia or symptoms despite beta-blockers should aim at identifying other genotypes than KCNQ1.
Villain
E
E
Cardiologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, 149 Rue de Sevres, 75015 Paris Cedex, France. elisabeth.villain@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr
Denjoy
I
I
Lupoglazoff
J M
JM
Guicheney
P
P
Hainque
B
B
Lucet
V
V
Bonnet
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006327:Heart Block / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists