Hereditary long QT syndromes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with seizures, especially when accompanied by a normal EEG and prolonged QT interval.
May prompt ECG review in atypical seizures; leaves open need for prospective validation.
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.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sundaram et al. (1986) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: