Coexistence of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome with Polymorphisms in hERG1 Gene (K897T) and SCN5A Gene (H558R) in One Family

Sports Heart Monitors as Reliable Diagnostic Tools for Training Control and Detecting Arrhythmias in Professional and Leisure-Time Endurance Athletes: An Expert Consensus Statement

There are countless types of portable heart rate monitoring medical devices used variously by leisure-time exercisers, professional athletes, and chronically ill patients. Almost all the currently used heart rate monitors are capable of detecting arrhythmias, but this feature is not widely known or used among their millions of consumers. The aims of this paper were as follows: (1) to analyze the currently available sports heart rate monitors and assess their advantages and disadvantage in terms of heart rate and rhythm monitoring in endurance athletes; (2) to discuss what types of currently available commercial heart rate monitors are most convenient/adjustable to the needs of different consumers (including occasionally physically active adults and cardiac patients), bearing in mind the potential health risks, especially heart rhythm disturbances connected with endurance training; (3) to suggest a set of "optimal" design features for next-generation smart wearable devices based on the consensus opinion of an expert panel of athletes, coaches, and sports medicine doctors. Ninety-two experts aged 20 years and over, involved in endurance sports on a daily basis, were invited to participate in consensus-building discussions, including 56 long-distance runners, 18 cyclists, nine coaches, and nine physicians (sports medicine specialists, cardiologists, and family medicine doctors). The overall consensus endorsed by these experts indicates that the "optimal" sports heart rate monitor should be a one-piece device of the smartwatch type (with two or more electrodes), with integrated smartphone features, and able to collect and continually transmit data without exhibiting artifacts. It should continuously record at least a single-lead electrocardiography, send an alert after an unexpected fall, be of reasonable weight, come at an affordable price, and be user friendly.

Exercise-Induced Arrhythmia or Munchausen Syndrome in a Marathon Runner?

A 36-year-old professional marathon runner reported sudden irregular palpitations occurring during competitions, with heart rates (HR) up to 230 bpm recorded on a sports HR monitor (HRM) over 4 years. These episodes subsided upon the cessation of exercise. Electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging results were borderline for athlete's heart. Because an electrophysiology study and standard exercise tests provoked no arrhythmia, doctors suspected Munchausen syndrome. Ultimately, an exercise test that simulated the physical effort of a competition provoked tachyarrhythmia consistent with the HRM readings. This case demonstrates the diagnostic difficulties related to exercise-induced arrhythmia and the diagnostic usefulness of sports HRMs.

Amateur Athlete with Sinus Arrest and Severe Bradycardia Diagnosed through a Heart Rate Monitor: A Six-Year Observation-The Necessity of Shared Decision-Making in Heart Rhythm Therapy Management

Heart rate monitors (HRMs) are used by millions of athletes worldwide to monitor exercise intensity and heart rate (HR) during training. This case report presents a 34-year-old male amateur soccer player with severe bradycardia who accidentally identified numerous pauses of over 4 s (maximum length: 7.3 s) during sleep on his own HRM with a heart rate variability (HRV) function. Simultaneous HRM and Holter ECG recordings were performed in an outpatient clinic, finding consistent 6.3 s sinus arrests (SA) with bradycardia of 33 beats/min. During the patient's hospitalization for a transient ischemic attack, the longest pauses on the Holter ECG were recorded, and he was suggested to undergo pacemaker implantation. He then reduced the volume/intensity of exercise for 4 years. Afterward, he spent 2 years without any regular training due to depression. After these 6 years, another Holter ECG test was performed in our center, not confirming the aforementioned disturbances and showing a tendency to tachycardia. The significant SA was resolved after a period of detraining. The case indicates that considering invasive therapy was unreasonable, and patient-centered care and shared decision-making play a key role in cardiac pacing therapy. In addition, some sports HRM with an HRV function can help diagnose bradyarrhythmia, both in professional and amateur athletes.

Ion Channel Gene Mutations Causing Skeletal Muscle Disorders: Pathomechanisms and Opportunities for Therapy

Skeletal muscle ion channelopathies (SMICs) are a large heterogeneous group of rare genetic disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding ion channel subunits in the skeletal muscle mainly characterized by myotonia or periodic paralysis, potentially resulting in long-term disabilities. However, with the development of new molecular technologies, new genes and new phenotypes, including progressive myopathies, have been recently discovered, markedly increasing the complexity in the field. In this regard, new advances in SMICs show a less conventional role of ion channels in muscle cell division, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Hence, SMICs represent an expanding and exciting field. Here, we review current knowledge of SMICs, with a description of their clinical phenotypes, cellular and molecular pathomechanisms, and available treatments.

Familial periodic paralysis associated with a rare KCNJ5 variant that supposed to have incomplete penetrance

BACKGROUND

The periodic paralyses are a group of skeletal muscle channelopathies caused by variants in several ion channel genes. Potassium Inwardly Rectifying Channel Subfamily J Member 5 (KCNJ5) encodes the G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channel 4 (Kir3.4) and the heterozygous KCNJ5 variants cause familial hyperaldosteronism and long QT syndrome (LQTS). Recent studies suggested that variants in KCNJ5 are also causative for Andersen-Tawil syndrome, which showed periodic paralysis and characteristic electrocardiogram features.

CLINICAL REPORT

We found a heterozygous KCNJ5 variant c.1159G > C, p.(Gly387Arg) in an individual with familial periodic paralysis using exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing revealed that this variant was inherited from his affected mother. The same variant had been previously found in two cases of familial LQTS or Andersen-Tawil syndrome, and functional analysis suggested that this variant might have loss of function effect on channel activity. However, the allele frequency of c.1159G > C variant in an East Asian population of public databases ranged from 0.21% to 0.25%, indicating possible incomplete penetrance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our two patients expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with the c.1159G > C KCNJ5 variant, though the variant has very low penetrance.

An unusual case of recurrent episodes of muscle weakness: Co-occurrence of Andersen-Tawil syndrome and glycogen storage disease type IXd

A 25-year-old male patient presented with periodic paralysis that increased in severity and frequency with age, accompanied with muscle pain and significantly elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels. Initial clinical and genetic examination confirmed Andersen-Tawil syndrome. Although his father carried the same genetic mutation (p.G300A), he experienced minor and infrequent attacks of paralysis. A change in the patient's symptoms, such as accompanying pain, contracture, and significant CK elevation, lead to a reconsideration of the diagnosis. A muscle biopsy of the biceps brachii in the patient revealed glycogen storage, but no tubular aggregates. Analysis of the phosphorylase kinase regulatory subunit alpha 1 (PHKA1) gene revealed a pathogenic mutation (p.C1082X), indicating glycogen storage disease type Ⅸd. The case demonstrates that co-occurrence of glycogen storage disease type Ⅸd may prolong attacks of muscle weakness, and cause serious muscle pain in patients with Andersen-Tawil syndrome.

Coincidence of Andersen-Tawil syndrome and Marfan syndrome: A case report

We report on a 44-year-old woman with coincidence of two genetic disorders: Andersen-Tawil syndrome and Marfan syndrome. In both, life-threatening arrhythmias could occur. A 44-year-old woman presented acute ascending aortic dissection with aortic arch involvement and chronic thoracic descending and abdominal aortic dissection. Clinical and genetic examination confirmed Marfan syndrome (MFS) diagnosis. Due to repolarization disorder in ECG and premature ventricular contractions in Holter ECG, the sequencing data were analyzed again and mutation in KCNJ2 gene was identified. The case showed that coincidence of Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) and MFS did not provoke life-threatening arrhythmias. Complication was rather caused by expression of FBN1 mutation.

Genetics update: Monogenetics, polygene disorders and the quest for modifying genes

The genetic channelopathies are a broad collection of diseases. Many ion channel genes demonstrate wide phenotypic pleiotropy, but nonetheless concerted efforts have been made to characterise genotype-phenotype relationships. In this review we give an overview of the factors that influence genotype-phenotype relationships across this group of diseases as a whole, using specific individual channelopathies as examples. We suggest reasons for the limitations observed in these relationships. We discuss the role of ion channel variation in polygenic disease and highlight research that has contributed to unravelling the complex aetiological nature of these conditions. We focus specifically on the quest for modifying genes in inherited channelopathies, using the voltage-gated sodium channels as an example. Epilepsy related to genetic channelopathy is one area in which precision medicine is showing promise. We will discuss the successes and limitations of precision medicine in these conditions. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Channelopathies.'

WITHDRAWN: Genetics update: Monogenetics, polygene disorders and the quest for modifying genes

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.013. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Andersen-Tawil syndrome: Clinical presentation and predictors of symptomatic arrhythmias - Possible role of polymorphisms K897T in KCNH2 and H558R in SCN5A gene

BACKGROUND

Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is rare channelopathy caused by KCNJ2 mutation and probably KCNJ5. It is characterized by arrhythmias, neurological symptoms, and dysmorphic features. The present study retrospectively examined the characteristics of 11 unrelated families with ATS.

METHODS

This study consisted of 11 probands positive for KCNJ2 variants and 33 family members (mean age 30.0±17.3 years, female n=31). Additional genetic screening of 3 LQTS genes (KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A) was performed in 9 families. Predictors of arrhythmias [premature ventricular beats>2000/24h, biventricular and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT)], syncope, and/or cardiac arrest (CA) were evaluated.

RESULTS

In KCNJ2 mutation carriers vs non-carriers (n=25 vs n=19) significant differences were observed in U-wave manifestations in V2-V4, T_peak-T_end duration, QTUc duration (p<0.0001), dysmorphic features, and neurological symptoms. Compared to asymptomatic carriers (n=9), in those with arrhythmias and/or syncope and/or CA (n=16) micrognathia (p=0.004), periodic paralysis (p=0.019), palpitation (p=0.005), U-wave n V2-V4 (p=0.049) were more frequent; QTU (p=0.045) and T_peak-T_end (p=0.014) were also longer (n=9). In the subgroup of carriers with syncope and/or cardiac arrest (n=10, 90% women), K897T-KCNH2 polymorphism (p=0.02), periodic paralysis (p=0.004), muscle weakness (p=0.04), palpitations (p=0.04), arrhythmias (biventricular VT, p=0.003; polymorphic VT, p=0.009) were observed more frequently. T_peak-T_end duration was longer (p=0.007) and the percentage of patients with premature ventricular contraction >2000/24h was higher (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

A higher risk of arrhythmia, syncope, and/or CA is associated with the presence of micrognathia, periodic paralysis, and prolonged T_peak-T_end time. Our findings suggest that K897T may contribute to the occurrence of syncope.