Epilepsy and the long QT syndrome: is there a link? – Commentary on Hindocha et al.
Stramba-Badiale M (2008) Epilepsy and the long QT syndrome: is there a link? – Commentary on Hindocha et al.. Epilepsia p. 366.
First Paragraph: Discussion of basic mechanisms of the epilepsies constitutes an important part of every epilepsy congressor symposium. Investigators working in the laboratorymade significant contributions to the International EpilepsyCongress last July. This article summarizes some of thenew insights into the mechanisms of epileptogenesis andthe novel strategies for therapeutic intervention emerging from the basic science sessions at the 27th Interna-tional Epilepsy Congress in Singapore. Each of the following paragraphs also includes the names of those investi-gators (in parentheses) who presented this material at theCongress.
Context
- As sodium channel genes are frequently mutated in long QT syndromes, this comment raises the possibility that the sodium channel mutation linked in Hindocha et al. to GEFS+ might also cause QT prolongation. Also discusses the ability of AED phenytoin to shorten QT intervals and the possibility that syncope sometimes seen in long QT syndrome could be misdiagnosed as epilepsy, or that epilepsy and long QT syndrome could coexist.