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Cardiac Tachyarrhythmias in Hereditary Long QT Syndromes Presenting as a Seizure Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

M.B.M. Sundaram*
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
J.D. McMeekin
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S. Gulamhusein
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
*
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X0
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Abstract:

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Patients with hereditary long QT disorders — Romano-Ward Syndrome and Jervell Lange-Nielsen Syndrome — sometimes present with seizures due to cardiac tachyarrhythmias. Two such patients are presented, emphasizing diagnostic clues — syncope, seizures with onset in early life, precipitation of attacks by emotional or physical stress, positive family history of sudden death and/or seizures, normal EEG and prolonged QT interval on ECG. Treatment is usually with adequate doses of sympathetic betablockers.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1986

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