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Carbone F, Montecucco F. Facing ethical concerns in the age of precise gene therapy: Outlook on inherited arrhythmias. World J Cardiol 2024; 16:64-66. [PMID: 38456071 PMCID: PMC10915887 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v16.i2.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This editorial, comments on the article by Spartalis et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Cardiology. We here provide an outlook on potential ethical concerns related to the future application of gene therapy in the field of inherited arrhythmias. As monogenic diseases with no or few therapeutic options available through standard care, inherited arrhythmias are ideal candidates to gene therapy in their treatment. Patients with inherited arrhythmias typically have a poor quality of life, especially young people engaged in agonistic sports. While genome editing for treatment of inherited arrhythmias still has theoretical application, advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technology now allows the generation of knock-in animal models of the disease. However, clinical translation is somehow expected soon and this make consistent discussing about ethical concerns related to gene editing in inherited arrhythmias. Genomic off-target activity is a known technical issue, but its relationship with ethnical and individual genetical diversity raises concerns about an equitable accessibility. Meanwhile, the cost-effectiveness may further limit an equal distribution of gene therapies. The economic burden of gene therapies on healthcare systems is is increasingly recognized as a pressing concern. A growing body of studies are reporting uncertainty in payback periods with intuitive short-term effects for insurance-based healthcare systems, but potential concerns for universal healthcare systems in the long term as well. Altogether, those aspects strongly indicate a need of regulatory entities to manage those issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Carbone
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genoa, Italian Cardiovascular Network, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Montecucco
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genoa, Italian Cardiovascular Network, Genoa 16132, Italy.
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Kaizer AM, Winbo A, Clur SAB, Etheridge SP, Ackerman MJ, Horigome H, Herberg U, Dagradi F, Spazzolini C, Killen SAS, Wacker-Gussmann A, Wilde AAM, Sinkovskaya E, Abuhamad A, Torchio M, Ng CA, Rydberg A, Schwartz PJ, Cuneo BF. Effects of cohort, genotype, variant, and maternal β-blocker treatment on foetal heart rate predictors of inherited long QT syndrome. Europace 2023; 25:euad319. [PMID: 37975542 PMCID: PMC10655062 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS In long QT syndrome (LQTS), primary prevention improves outcome; thus, early identification is key. The most common LQTS phenotype is a foetal heart rate (FHR) < 3rd percentile for gestational age (GA) but the effects of cohort, genotype, variant, and maternal β-blocker therapy on FHR are unknown. We assessed the influence of these factors on FHR in pregnancies with familial LQTS and developed a FHR/GA threshold for LQTS. METHODS AND RESULTS In an international cohort of pregnancies in which one parent had LQTS, LQTS genotype, familial variant, and maternal β-blocker effects on FHR were assessed. We developed a testing algorithm for LQTS using FHR and GA as continuous predictors. Data included 1966 FHRs at 7-42 weeks' GA from 267 pregnancies/164 LQTS families [220 LQTS type 1 (LQT1), 35 LQTS type 2 (LQT2), and 12 LQTS type 3 (LQT3)]. The FHRs were significantly lower in LQT1 and LQT2 but not LQT3 or LQTS negative. The LQT1 variants with non-nonsense and severe function loss (current density or β-adrenergic response) had lower FHR. Maternal β-blockers potentiated bradycardia in LQT1 and LQT2 but did not affect FHR in LQTS negative. A FHR/GA threshold predicted LQT1 and LQT2 with 74.9% accuracy, 71% sensitivity, and 81% specificity. CONCLUSION Genotype, LQT1 variant, and maternal β-blocker therapy affect FHR. A predictive threshold of FHR/GA significantly improves the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for LQT1 and LQT2, above the infant's a priori 50% probability. We speculate this model may be useful in screening for LQTS in perinatal subjects without a known LQTS family history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Kaizer
- Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Annika Winbo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umea, Sweden
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sally-Ann B Clur
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan P Etheridge
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic and Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Hitoshi Horigome
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Cardiology, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ulrike Herberg
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Federica Dagradi
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 2015 Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Spazzolini
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 2015 Milan, Italy
| | - Stacy A S Killen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Annette Wacker-Gussmann
- Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Paediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Arthur A M Wilde
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Amseterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Sinkovskaya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Alfred Abuhamad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Margherita Torchio
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 2015 Milan, Italy
| | - Chai-Ann Ng
- Mark Cowley Lidwill Research Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
- The School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Annika Rydberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umea, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J Schwartz
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 2015 Milan, Italy
| | - Bettina F Cuneo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Cardiology, University of Denver School of Medicine, 13123 16th Ave, Box 100, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Porta-Sánchez A, Priori SG. Genetic Abnormalities of the Sinoatrial Node and Atrioventricular Conduction. Cardiol Clin 2023; 41:333-347. [PMID: 37321685 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The peculiar electrophysiological properties of the sinoatrial node and the cardiac conduction system are key components of the normal physiology of cardiac impulse generation and propagation. Multiple genes and transcription factors and metabolic proteins are involved in their development and regulation. In this review, we have summarized the genetic underlying causes, key clinical findings, and the latest available clinical evidence. We will discuss clinical diagnosis and management of the genetic conditions associated with conduction disorders that are more prevalent in clinical practice, for this reason, very rare genetic diseases presenting sinus node or cardiac conduction system abnormalities are not discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreu Porta-Sánchez
- Cardiología Molecular, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Cardiología, Unidad de Arritmias, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Giuliana Priori
- Cardiología Molecular, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) Madrid, Spain; Molecular Medicine Department, University of Pavia, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
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Porta-Sánchez A, Priori SG. Genetic Abnormalities of the Sinoatrial Node and Atrioventricular Conduction. Card Electrophysiol Clin 2021; 13:625-639. [PMID: 34689891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccep.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The peculiar electrophysiological properties of the sinoatrial node and the cardiac conduction system are key components of the normal physiology of cardiac impulse generation and propagation. Multiple genes and transcription factors and metabolic proteins are involved in their development and regulation. In this review, we have summarized the genetic underlying causes, key clinical findings, and the latest available clinical evidence. We will discuss clinical diagnosis and management of the genetic conditions associated with conduction disorders that are more prevalent in clinical practice, for this reason, very rare genetic diseases presenting sinus node or cardiac conduction system abnormalities are not discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreu Porta-Sánchez
- Cardiología Molecular, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Cardiología, Unidad de Arritmias, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Giuliana Priori
- Cardiología Molecular, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) Madrid, Spain; Molecular Medicine Department, University of Pavia, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
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Kroncke BM, Yang T, Kannankeril P, Shoemaker MB, Roden DM. Exploiting ion channel structure to assess rare variant pathogenicity. Heart Rhythm 2018; 15:890-4. [PMID: 29330128 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2018.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A 27-year-old woman was seen for long QT syndrome. She was found to be a carrier of 2 variants, KCNQ1 Val162Met and KCNH2 Ser55Leu, and both were classified as "pathogenic" by a diagnostic laboratory, in part because of sequence proximity to other known pathogenic variants. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between both the KCNQ1 and KCNH2 variants and clinical significance using protein structure, in vitro functional assays, and familial segregation. METHODS We used co-segregation analysis of family, patch clamp in vitro electrophysiology, and structural analysis using recently released cryo-electron microscopy structures of both channels. RESULTS The structural analysis indicates that KCNQ1 Val162Met is oriented away from functionally important regions while Ser55Leu is positioned at domains critical for KCNH2 fast inactivation. Clinical phenotyping and electrophysiology study further support the conclusion that KCNH2 Ser55Leu is correctly classified as pathogenic but KCNQ1 Val162Met is benign. CONCLUSION Proximity in sequence space does not always translate accurately to proximity in 3-dimensional space. Emerging structural methods will add value to pathogenicity prediction.
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Abstract
Genetic cardiac diseases related to potassium channelopathies are a group of relatively rare syndromes that includes long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and early repolarization syndrome. Patients with these syndromes share a propensity for the development of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in the absence of significant cardiac structural abnormalities. Familial atrial fibrillation has also been associated with potassium channel dysfunction but differs from the other syndromes by being a rare cause of a common condition. This article focuses on the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of these syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnon Adler
- Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel
| | - Sami Viskin
- Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.
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Mizusawa Y. Recent advances in genetic testing and counseling for inherited arrhythmias. J Arrhythm 2016; 32:389-397. [PMID: 27761163 PMCID: PMC5063262 DOI: 10.1016/j.joa.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited arrhythmias, such as cardiomyopathies and cardiac ion channelopathies, along with coronary heart disease (CHD) are three most common disorders that predispose adults to sudden cardiac death. In the last three decades, causal genes in inherited arrhythmias have been successfully identified. At the same time, it has become evident that the genetic architectures are more complex than previously known. Recent advancements in DNA sequencing technology (next generation sequencing) have enabled us to study such complex genetic traits. This article discusses indications for genetic testing of patients with inherited arrhythmias. Further, it describes the benefits and challenges that we face in the era of next generation sequencing. Finally, it briefly discusses genetic counseling, in which a multidisciplinary approach is required due to the increased complexity of the genetic information related to inherited arrhythmias.
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Key Words
- ARVD/C, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy
- BrS, Brugada syndrome
- CHD, coronary heart disease
- CPVT, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
- Cardiac ion channelopathies
- Cardiomyopathies
- DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy
- GWAS, genome wide association study
- Genetic counseling
- Genetic testing
- HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- HF, heart failure
- ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Inherited arrhythmias
- LQTS, long QT syndrome
- NGS, next generation sequencing
- SCD, sudden cardiac death
- VA, ventricular arrhythmia
- VF, ventricular fibrillation
- WES, whole exome sequencing
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Mizusawa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Room K2-115, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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