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Original Article
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Volume 339:960-965 October 1, 1998 Number 14
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Influence of the Genotype on the Clinical Course of the Long-QT Syndrome
Wojciech Zareba, M.D., Ph.D., Arthur J. Moss, M.D., Peter J. Schwartz, M.D., G. Michael Vincent, M.D., Jennifer L. Robinson, M.S., Silvia G. Priori, M.D., Ph.D., Jesaia Benhorin, M.D., Emanuela H. Locati, M.D., Ph.D., Jeffrey A. Towbin, M.D., Mark T. Keating, M.D., Michael H. Lehmann, M.D., W. Jackson Hall, Ph.D., Mark L. Andrews, B.B.A., Carlo Napolitano, M.D., Katherine Timothy, Li Zhang, M.D., Aharon Medina, M.D., Jean W. MacCluer, Ph.D., for The International Long-QT Syndrome Registry Research Group

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ABSTRACT

Background The congenital long-QT syndrome, caused by mutations in cardiac potassium-channel genes (KVLQT1 at the LQT1 locus and HERG at the LQT2 locus) and the sodium-channel gene (SCN5A at the LQT3 locus), has distinct repolarization patterns on electrocardiography, but it is not known whether the genotype influences the clinical course of the disease.

Methods We determined the genotypes of 541 of 1378 members of 38 families enrolled in the International Long-QT Syndrome Registry: 112 had mutations at the LQT1 locus, 72 had mutations at the LQT2 locus, and 62 had mutations at the LQT3 locus. We determined the cumulative probability and lethality of cardiac events (syncope, aborted cardiac arrest, or sudden death) occurring from birth through the age of 40 years according to genotype in the 246 gene carriers and in all 1378 members of the families studied.

Results The frequency of cardiac events was higher among subjects with mutations at the LQT1 locus (63 percent) or the LQT2 locus (46 percent) than among subjects with mutations at the LQT3 locus (18 percent) (P<0.001 for the comparison of all three groups). In a multivariate Cox analysis, the genotype and the QT interval corrected for heart rate were significant independent predictors of a first cardiac event. The cumulative mortality through the age of 40 among members of the three groups of families studied was similar; however, the likelihood of dying during a cardiac event was significantly higher (P<0.001) among families with mutations at the LQT3 locus (20 percent) than among those with mutations at the LQT1 locus (4 percent) or the LQT2 locus (4 percent).

Conclusions The genotype of the long-QT syndrome influences the clinical course. The risk of cardiac events is significantly higher among subjects with mutations at the LQT1 or LQT2 locus than among those with mutations at the LQT3 locus. Although cumulative mortality is similar regardless of the genotype, the percentage of cardiac events that are lethal is significantly higher in families with mutations at the LQT3 locus.


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From the Departments of Medicine (W.Z., A.J.M., E.H.L.), Community and Preventive Medicine (J.L.R.), and Biostatistics (W.J.H.), University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, N.Y.; Centro di Fisiologia Clinica e Ipertensione, University of Milan, and Ospedale Maggiore Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattene Scientifico, Milan, Italy (P.J.S.); the Department of Cardiology, University of Pavia, and Policlinico San Matteo, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattene Scientifico, Pavia, Italy (P.J.S.); LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City (G.M.V.); Molecular Cardiology Foundation S. Maugeri, Pavia, Italy (S.G.P.); the Department of Cardiology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (E.H.L.); Bikur Cholim Hospital, University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (J.B.); the Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston (J.A.T.); Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (M.T.K.); and the Arrhythmia Center, Sinai Hospital, Detroit (M.H.L.). Other authors were Mark L. Andrews, B.B.A. (Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, N.Y.), Carlo Napolitano, M.D. (Centro di Fisiologia Clinica e Ipertensione, University of Milan, and Ospedale Maggiore Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattene Scientifico, Milan, Italy), Katherine Timothy and Li Zhang, M.D. (LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City), Aharon Medina, M.D. (Bikur Cholim Hospital, University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel), and Jean W. MacCluer, Ph.D. (Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Tex.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Zareba at the Heart Research Follow-up Program, Box 653, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-8653.

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