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Arrhythmias

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Principles of Molecular Medicine

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Abstract

Ion channel mutations cause long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, conduction disorders, catecholinergic ventricular tachycardia, and some forms of familial atrial fibrillation and pre-excitation. Transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models of these disorders have further increased the understanding of links between ion channel mutations and these rare arrhythmia syndromes. Molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and implications of these findings are discussed later. It is important to realize, however, that the genetic basis of other inherited arrhythmic syndromes remains unclear, as does the role of genes that are not ion channels. In addition, the relationship of common genetic variants (polymorphisms) to arrhythmic risk is only beginning to be studied. This chapter highlights the avenues of future research that seem most likely to yield results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

    Barry London

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  1. Barry London
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  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Carolina Cardiovascular Biology Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

    Marschall S. Runge MD, PhD  & Cam Patterson MD  & 

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc.

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London, B. (2006). Arrhythmias. In: Runge, M.S., Patterson, C. (eds) Principles of Molecular Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-963-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-963-9_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-202-5

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