Catecholamines in children with congenital long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome

Catecholamines have long been used as a provocative test in some forms of tachyarrhythmias including long QT syndrome (LQTS). In contrast, catecholamines are reported to decrease ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V3 in some patients with Brugada syndrome. Differential effects of catecholamines on QT interval, action potential duration, transmural dispersion of repolarization and Torsade de Pointes between LQT1, LQT2, and LQT3 forms of the LQTS were shown in experimental models of the LQTS by using arterially-perfused wedge preparations as well as in patients with congenital LQTS including children. In our preliminary result of patients with Brugada syndrome including a child, isoproterenol infusion was effective to decrease the ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V2 and to suppress the electrical storm of ventricular fibrillation.