Postmortem genetic screening for long QT syndrome should be considered in all cases of sudden cardiac death with negative autopsy findings to identify and treat affected family members.
Does postmortem molecular analysis in victims of sudden unexplained death help identify affected family members?
Postmortem genetic screening for LQTS in sudden unexplained death victims with negative autopsies is crucial for identifying and treating affected family members.
Among several conditions that can be responsible for sudden cardiac death (SCD), an important role is played by long QT syndrome (LQTS). LQTS is a congenital electric heart disease that can be asymptomatic or have very severe clinical manifestation, leading to cardiac arrest. In fact, the first manifestation of LQTS can be hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of LQTS should be considered in all cases of SCD where autopsy is negative for anatomic and histopathological findings. In these cases, after an accurate anamnesis, a genetic screening should always be performed. The screening on LQTS genes is performed on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues. Making a proper diagnosis in such cases can help to find new affected subjects among the family members of SCD victims and treat them. In these cases, if the pathologist does not make a correct diagnosis, can he or she be sued for malpractice?
Paolo et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Sudden unexplained death and Long QT syndrome. Postmortem genetic screening was evaluated. Postmortem genetic screening for long QT syndrome should be considered in all cases of sudden cardiac death with negative autopsy findings to identify and treat affected family members.