Key result
Neonatal ECG screening helps prevent SIDS by detecting cardiac channelopathies like long QT syndrome.
Cardiac channelopathies are a preventable cause of SIDS, emphasizing the potential clinical and medico-legal importance of neonatal ECG screening.
The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), with the load of mystery surrounding its causes and with the devastating impact on the affected families, remains the greatest contributor to post-neonatal mortality during the first year of life. Following a succinct review of the non-cardiac genetic factors, which have been associated with SIDS, we focus on the cardiac hypothesis for SIDS and specifically on those diseases produced by cardiac ion channel mutations, the so-called channelopathies. Special attention is devoted to the fact that these causes of SIDS, and especially the long QT syndrome, are preventable if diagnosed in time. This highlights the importance of neonatal ECG screening and carries a number of practical implications, including medico-legal considerations.
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Insolia et al. (2011) conducted a review in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Cardiac Channelopathies. Neonatal ECG screening was evaluated. Cardiac channelopathies, particularly long QT syndrome, are preventable causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome if diagnosed early via neonatal ECG screening.
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