Cardiac conditions that cause sudden death Flashcards
What is sudden cardiac death?
An event that is non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected and resulting from sudden cardiac arrest within 6 hours of previously witnessed normal health
What are the 2 types of arrythmogenic inherited cardiac conditions?
Channelopathies and cardiomyopathies
Name some inherited channelopathies
Congenital long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), short QT syndrome
Name some inherited cardiomyopathies
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
In channelopathies what is the arrythmogenesis related to?
Ion current imbalance and development of early and late depolarisations
In cardiomyopathies what is the arrhythmogenesis related to?
Scar/electrical barrier formation and subsequent re-entry
What is an afterdepolarisation?
After depolarisations are abnormal depolarisations of cardiac myocytes that interrupt phsae 2,3 or 4 of the cardiac AP in the cardiac conduction system of the heart. After depolarisations can lead to triggered activity seen as sustained cardiac arrythmia
When do early after depolarisations occur?
During phase 2 or 3
What causes early after depolarisations (EADs)?
An increase in the frequency of abortive action potentials before normal repolarisation is completed. Phase 2 may be interrupted due to augmented opening of calcium channels, while phase 3 interruptions are due to the opening of calcium channels
What can occur as a result of EADs?
Torsades de Pointes
What can potentiate and EAD?
Hypokalaemia and drugs that prolong the QT interval, including class Ia and III anti-arrhythmic agents
When do delayed after depolarisations (DADs) occur?
During phase 4, after repolarisation is completed but before another action potential would normally occur via normal conduction systems of the heart
What causes DADs?
Elevated cytosolic calcium concentrations, classically seen with digoxin toxicity
What is the classical feature associated with DADs?
Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (also seen in CPVT)
How do DADs occur?
The overload of the sarcoplasmic reticulum may cause spontaneous Ca release after repolarisation, causing released Ca to exit the cell through the 3Na/Ca exchanger which results in a net depolarizing current
What mode of inheritance are most cardiac conditions inherited by?
Autosomal dominant inheritance
What occurs as a result of congenital LQTS?
Polymorphic VT (Torsades de Pointes) triggered by adrenergic stimulation
What is the risk of sudden cardiac death in congenital long QT syndrome?
In untreated LQTS risk = 0.33-0.9% and this risk increases with increasing QT duration. Risk also depends on gender (pre-adolescent males and adult females), age, prior syncope and response to beta-blockers
What is the mode of inheritance for congenital LQTS?
Mainly autosomal dominant - isolated LQT = Romano-Ward syndrome. Autosomal recessive is associated with deafness and is called Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome
How many subtypes of congenital LQTS are there?
13 subtypes i.e. 13 genes
What are the diagnostic criteria for LQTS?
Class I = QT interval >/=480ms in repeated 12-lead ECGs or LQTS risk score >3 or the presence of a confirmed pathogenic LQTS mutation irrespective of the QT duration Class IIa - QT interval >/=460ms in repeated 12-lead ECGs in patients with an unexplained syncopal episode in the absence of secondary causes for QT prolongation