BACKGROUND-Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a common heritable channelopathy. Mutations in the SCN5A-encoded sodium channel (BrS1) culminate in the most common genotype.

Background-Type-1 long-QT syndrome (LQTS) is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the KCNQ1-encoded I Ks cardiac potassium channel. We evaluated the effect of location, coding type, and biophysical function of KCNQ1 mutations on the clinical phenotype of this disorder. Methods and Results-We investigated the clinical course in 600 patients with 77 different KCNQ1 mutations in 101 proband-identified families derived from the US portion of the International LQTS Registry (nϭ425), the Netherlands' LQTS Registry (nϭ93), and the Japanese LQTS Registry (nϭ82). The Cox proportional hazards survivorship model was used to evaluate the independent contribution of clinical and genetic factors to the first occurrence of time-dependent cardiac events from birth through age 40 years. The clinical characteristics, distribution of mutations, and overall outcome event rates were similar in patients enrolled from the 3 geographic regions. Biophysical function of the mutations was categorized according to dominant-negative (Ͼ50%) or haploinsufficiency (Յ50%) reduction in cardiac repolarizing I Ks potassium channel current.Patients with transmembrane versus C-terminus mutations (hazard ratio, 2.06; PϽ0.001) and those with mutations having dominant-negative versus haploinsufficiency ion channel effects (hazard ratio, 2.26; PϽ0.001) were at increased risk for cardiac events, and these genetic risks were independent of traditional clinical risk factors. Conclusions-This genotype-phenotype study indicates that in type-1 LQTS, mutations located in the transmembrane portion of the ion channel protein and the degree of ion channel dysfunction caused by the mutations are important independent risk factors influencing the clinical course of this disorder.

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for the Brugada Syndrome Investigators in Japan Background-The prognosis of patients with saddleback or noncoved type (non-type 1) ST-elevation in Brugada syndrome is unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the long-term prognosis of probands with non-type 1 ECG and those with coved (type 1) Brugada-pattern ECG. Methods and Results-A total of 330 (123 symptomatic, 207 asymptomatic) probands with a coved or saddleback ST-elevation Ն1 mm in leads V 1 -V 3 were divided into 2 ECG groups-type 1 (245 probands) and non-type 1 (85 probands)-and were prospectively followed for 48.7Ϯ15.0 months. The absence of type 1 ECG was confirmed by drug provocation test and multiple recordings. The ratio of individuals with a family history of sudden cardiac death (14%) was lower than previous studies. Clinical profiles and outcomes were not notably different between the 2 groups (annual arrhythmic event rate of probands with ventricular fibrillation; type 1: 10.2%, non-type 1: 10.6%, probands with syncope; type 1: 0.6%, non-type 1: 1.2%, and asymptomatic probands; type 1: 0.5%, non-type 1: 0%). Family history of sudden cardiac death at age Ͻ45 years and coexistence of inferolateral early repolarization with Brugada-pattern ECG were independent predictors of fatal arrhythmic events (hazard ratio, 3.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.42 to 7.60; Pϭ0.005; hazard ratio, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 6.71; Pϭ0.03, respectively, by multivariate analysis), although spontaneous type 1 ECG and ventricular fibrillation inducibility by electrophysiological study were not reliable parameters. Conclusions-The long-term prognosis of probands in non-type 1 group was similar to that of type 1 group. Family history of sudden cardiac death and the presence of early repolarization were predictors of poor outcome in this study, which included only probands with Brugada-pattern ST-elevation. (Circ Arrhythmia Electrophysiol. 2009;2:495-503.)

This study identified several UGT1A1 haplotypes significantly associated with the reduced AUC ratio (*28 and *6) and with the increased total bilirubin level (*28, *60, and *IB) and suggested that the novel haplotype *IB might be functionally important. These findings will be useful for further pharmacogenetic studies on adverse reactions to irinotecan.

Phenotypic overlap of type 3 long QT syndrome (LQT3) with Brugada syndrome (BrS) is observed in some carriers of mutations in the Na channel SCN5A. While this overlap is important for patient management, the clinical features, prevalence, and mechanisms underlying such overlap have not been fully elucidated. To investigate the basis for this overlap, we genotyped a cohort of 44 LQT3 families of multiple ethnicities from 7 referral centers and found a high prevalence of the E1784K mutation in SCN5A. Of 41 E1784K carriers, 93% had LQT3, 22% had BrS, and 39% had sinus node dysfunction. Heterologously expressed E1784K channels showed a 15.0-mV negative shift in the voltage dependence of Na channel inactivation and a 7.5-fold increase in flecainide affinity for resting-state channels, properties also seen with other LQT3 mutations associated with a mixed clinical phenotype. Furthermore, these properties were absent in Na channels harboring the T1304M mutation, which is associated with LQT3 without a mixed clinical phenotype. These results suggest that a negative shift of steady-state Na channel inactivation and enhanced tonic block by class IC drugs represent common biophysical mechanisms underlying the phenotypic overlap of LQT3 and BrS and further indicate that class IC drugs should be avoided in patients with Na channels displaying these behaviors.

Our data suggest that the malignant entity of idiopathic VF and/or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia was occasionally present in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias arising from the RVOT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was effective as a treatment option for this entity.

Objectives To investigate the effect of location, coding type, and topology of KCNH2(hERG) mutations on clinical phenotype in Type-2 long-QT syndrome. Backgrounds Previous studies were limited by population size in their ability to examine phenotypic effect of location, type and topology. Methods Study subjects included 858 Type-2 long-QT syndrome patients with 162 different KCNH2 mutations in 213 proband-identified families. The Cox proportional-hazards survivorship model was used to evaluate independent contribution of clinical and genetic factors to the first cardiac events. Results For patients with missense mutations, the transmembrane pore (S5-loop-S6) and N-terminus regions were a significantly greater risk than the C-terminus region (HR=2.87 and 1.86, respectively), but the transmembrane non-pore (S1-S4) region was not (HR=1.19). Additionally, the transmembrane pore region was significantly riskier than the N-terminus or transmembrane non-pore regions (HR=1.54, 2.42). However, for non-missense mutations, these other regions were no longer riskier than the C-terminus (HR=1.13, 0.77 and 0.46, respectively). Likewise, subjects with non-missense mutations were at significantly higher risk than those with missense mutations in the C-terminus region (HR=2.00), but this was not the case in other regions. This mutation location-type interaction was significant (p-value=0.008). A significantly higher risk was found in subjects with mutations located in α-helical domains than in those with mutations in β-sheet domains or other locations (HR=1.74 and 1.33, respectively). Time-dependent β-blocker use was associated with a significant 63% reduction in the risk of first cardiac events (p<0.001). Conclusions KCNH2 missense mutations located in the transmembrane S5-loop-S6 region are associated with the greatest risk.