Jervell and Lange-Nielsen
Diagnosing long QT syndrome
Ifyour GPthinks you havelong QT syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they may recommend that you have an ECG and refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist).
In particular, if blackouts have occurred during exercise, or if there's a family history of sudden cardiac death below the age of 40, specialist assessment is needed.
AnECG is a test that records your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. If you have long QT syndrome, the trace of the QT section will be longer than normal.
During an ECG, sticky pads called electrodes arestuck on your arms, legs and chest, and connectedby wires to an ECG machine. The test may need to be carried out while you exercise on a treadmill, as well as during rest.
Genetic testing may be needed to identify the defective gene that may be causing long QT syndrome. It can also help to determine which family members may have inherited the defective gene and need clinical assessment.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Long QT syndrome causes problems with the electrical activity of the heart. It's uncommon, occurring in around 1 in every 2,000 people.
Symptoms of long QT syndrome
There are usually no physical signs of long QT syndrome, and some people don't experience any symptoms. The most common symptoms are blackouts or seizures caused by the interruptions to the heart's r
What causes long QT syndrome?
To understand the underlying cause of long QT syndrome, it's important to know how the heart cells work. On the surface of each heart muscle cell are tiny pores, or ion channels. These open and close
What does 'long QT' mean?
Every time your heart beats, it produces tiny electrical signals. An electrocardiogram (ECG) machine traces these signals on paper a typical pattern is shown below. As the graphshows, each heart
Diagnosing long QT syndrome
Ifyour GPthinks you havelong QT syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they may recommend that you have an ECG and refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist). In particular, if blackouts have oc
Treating long QT syndrome
Most people with inherited long QT syndrome will need treatment with medicines. Beta-blockers , such aspropranololornadolol, may be prescribed to help control irregular heartbeats and slow down your
Living with long QT syndrome
With appropriate treatment, such as medication or surgery, it should be possible to lead a relatively normal lifestyle. However, you may need to make some lifestyle adjustments to reduce your risk of
Information about you
If you have long QT syndrome, your clinical team may pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for
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