The Canadian journal of cardiology
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Although sudden cardiac death in youths is generally rare, it is estimated that 10% to 20% of these deaths occur in previously healthy infants, children, adolescents and young adults without any findings on autopsy and with devastating consequences on the family. The majority of these deaths are caused by inherited arrhythmia syndromes, the so-called 'channelopathies'. In the present paper, the recent advances in the clinical and genetic background of long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, Brugada syndrome and the overlapping phenotypes are reviewed, and the recently established connections between these syndromes and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and sudden infant death syndrome are discussed.
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Review Comparative Study
Drug-induced long QT syndrome and torsade de pointes.
Several medications, including drugs prescribed for noncardiac indications, have been associated with a prolongation of the QT interval on the surface electrocardiogram. Under certain circumstances, this clinical manifestation may reflect an increased risk for patients presenting with a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia known as torsade de pointes. Drugs that prolong the QT interval belong to several pharmacological classes, but most of them share one pharmacological effect: they lengthen cardiac repolarization mostly by blocking specific cardiac K+ channels. ⋯ In brief, drug-induced torsade de pointes is a relatively rare event in the entire population, which nonetheless carries the risk of lethal consequences. Consequently, drug surveillance programs are very active in identifying drugs that induce the prolongation of the QT interval. Recent data have allowed us to better understand the underlying electrophysiological mechanisms of the syndrome and better identify predisposing factors.
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To review the literature on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and to present an approach to diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ The present review offers practical recommendations on how to detect and assess anxiety, PTSD and depression in the cardiology or primary care setting. Treatment recommendations are provided, with a focus on pharmacotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with CAD.
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Sudden death is usually the result of hemodynamically destabilizing ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Because the only definitive treatment for ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation is a direct current shock, and because that defibrillating shock must be given very quickly to be effective, the American Heart Association's "chain of survival" approach to persons with a cardiac arrest emphasizes early access to care, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early cardiac defibrillation and early advanced life support. ⋯ The automated external defibrillator enables life-saving defibrillation therapy to be provided to the cardiac arrest victim by nontraditional responders, such as the general public. The present review evaluates the current role of the automated external defibrillator in the ongoing struggle to prevent sudden cardiac death.
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The therapy for chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is largely symptomatic in nature, involving the use of bronchodilators and steroids, and the judicious use of antibiotics. None of these have been shown to have a consistent beneficial impact on outcome. Moreover, the outcome of patients with COPD is determined, to some extent, by the occurrence of cardiovascular events. ⋯ There appear to be direct links between lung injury and concomitant vascular injury by virtue of a systemic inflammatory state induced by lung inflammation. The present paper raises the possibility that the outcome of patients with COPD may be improved significantly through aggressive use of therapies known to prevent cardiovascular events. Moreover, angiotensin II is also a direct mediator of lung injury; interruption of this mechanism of injury might simultaneously prevent both cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic lung disease.