Sudden infant death syndrome caused by cardiac arrhythmias: only a matter of genes encoding ion channels?
Int J Legal Med
; 130(2): 415-20, 2016 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26872470
ABSTRACT
Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexpected demise of a child younger than 1 year of age which remains unexplained after a complete autopsy investigation. Usually, it occurs during sleep, in males, and during the first 12 weeks of life. The pathophysiological mechanism underlying the death is unknown, and the lethal episode is considered multifactorial. However, in cases without a conclusive post-mortem diagnosis, suspicious of cardiac arrhythmias may also be considered as a cause of death, especially in families suffering from any cardiac disease associated with sudden cardiac death. Here, we review current understanding of sudden infant death, focusing on genetic causes leading to lethal cardiac arrhythmias, considering both genes encoding ion channels as well as structural proteins due to recent association of channelopathies and desmosomal genes. We support a comprehensive analysis of all genes associated with sudden cardiac death in families suffering of infant death. It allows the identification of the most plausible cause of death but also of family members at risk, providing cardiologists with essential data to adopt therapeutic preventive measures in families affected with this lethal entity.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Arritmias Cardíacas
/
Morte Súbita do Lactente
/
Canalopatias
Limite:
Humans
/
Infant
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Legal Med
Assunto da revista:
JURISPRUDENCIA
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha