
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Short QT syndrome natural history, complications and prognosis
Introduction
To go back to the main page, click here.
Overview
Overview
Short QT syndrome(SQTS) is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, syncope and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation. The disease symptoms develop in between the second and fourth decade of life . The most common presentation is syncope and palpitations. Most of the pediatric patients remain asymptomatic and get diagnosed only when they have an index case in the family prompting a genetic testing. Without treatment most of the pediatric patients who present within first decade of life succumb to Sudden cardiac death and younger patients with QTc of 285 msec and adults with QT less than 300 msec have increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Natural History
The symptoms of SQTS usually develop between the second and fourth decade of life and start with symptoms such as syncope and palpitations. The primary manifestations of SQTS are palpitations, syncope, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. Without treatment, the patient will develop a worsening of arrhythmia, which may eventually lead to cardiac arrest. It is believed that most of the pediatric patients remain asymptomatic and get diagnosed only when they have an index case in the family prompting a genetic testing. The circumstances in which symptoms arise in SQTS patients are highly variable. According to a few studies, SQTS patients can be asymptomatic in a significant proportion of the study population and get diagnosed only with a strong familial predisposition[1].
Complications
Complications can result due to SQTS.
- atrial fibrillation
- ventricular fibrillation
- Sudden cardiac death
Prognosis
Prognosis
Long term prognosis has not been assessed due to the unavailability of data. Severe shortening of QT values in adults β€300 msec and in young patients with median QTc of 285 msec have increased risk of SCD either at rest or in sleep[2].
References
References
- β Rudic B, Schimpf R, Borggrefe M (2014). “Short QT Syndrome – Review of Diagnosis and Treatment”. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev. 3 (2): 76β9. doi:10.15420/aer.2014.3.2.76. PMCΒ 4711567. PMIDΒ 26835070.
- β VillafaΓ±e J, Atallah J, Gollob MH, Maury P, Wolpert C, Gebauer R; et al. (2013). “Long-term follow-up of a pediatric cohort with short QT syndrome”. J Am Coll Cardiol. 61 (11): 1183β91. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.12.025. PMIDΒ 23375927.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Sumanth Khadke, MD[2]
