Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Noninvasive Electrocardiography in the Perinatal Mouse
Published on: June 12, 2020
Electrocardiographic screening of 1-month-old infants for identifying prolonged QT intervals
Masao Yoshinaga1, Hiroya Ushinohama, Seiichi Sato
1Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Kagoshima Medical Center, Kagoshima, Japan.
Insights
Neonatal electrocardiographic screening effectively identifies infants with prolonged QT intervals in Japan. This method can also detect other critical cardiac conditions in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Genetics
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Neonatal electrocardiographic (ECG) screening is established for detecting prolonged QT intervals in white populations.
- Validation of this screening protocol in diverse ethnic groups, specifically Japanese infants, is necessary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the efficacy of neonatal ECG screening for prolonged QT intervals in the Japanese population.
- To evaluate a provisional QTc criterion of ≥470 ms for infant screening.
Main Methods:
- An ECG was performed on 4285 infants at their 1-month checkup across 8 regions in Japan.
- Infants with QTc values between 460 and 470 ms underwent follow-up assessments to validate the screening criterion.
- Genetic testing was conducted on infants diagnosed with prolonged QT intervals.
Main Results:
- A provisional QTc criterion of ≥470 ms was found appropriate for Japanese infants.
- Four infants were diagnosed with prolonged QT intervals, with one identified with a KCNH2 mutation.
- The screening also identified an infant with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and noncompaction.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal ECG screening is effective in identifying Japanese infants at risk for long-QT syndrome.
- The screening protocol shows potential for detecting other significant congenital heart diseases in newborns.
Background:
Neonatal electrocardiographic screening is used to screen infants with prolonged QT intervals, as previously shown in whites. However, this procedure needs to be confirmed in other ethnic groups.
Methods And Results:
In 8 areas in Japan, an ECG was recorded in 4285 infants at 1-month medical checkup. A prospective study showed that a provisional criterion of QTc≥470 ms was appropriate for infants. To assess the validity of the criterion, all infants with a QTc between 460 and 470 ms were followed up. Five infants had a QTc≥470 ms. Four infants were diagnosed with prolonged QT intervals from follow-up ECGs. Four infants showed no symptoms and did not have a family history of long-QT syndrome. Two infants showed progressive prolongation of QT intervals, and medication was started. Genetic testing was performed in 3 of 4 infants with prolonged QT intervals, and it revealed a KCNH2 mutation (3065 delT, L1021fs+34X) in 1 infant. One infant with a QTc≥470 ms and 2 infants with a QTc between 460 and 470 ms showed a decline in their QTc values during follow-up. The study screened another infant with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who was diagnosed with noncompaction before symptoms appeared.
Conclusions:
Neonatal electrocardiographic screening can identify infants likely to be affected by long-QT syndrome in the Japanese population, as already shown in whites. This screening may also be useful in identifying other important cardiac diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
01:24ECG Interpretation of Rhythms
Components of the Electrocardiogram
The primary components of a normal ECG waveform in Normal sinus rhythm(NSR) include the P wave, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, T wave, and occasionally a U wave.
ECG waveforms are divided by vertical and horizontal lines at standard intervals.
The horizontal axis measures time and rate, and the vertical axis measures amplitude or voltage. When...
01:28Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin to...
01:23Holter Monitor: 24-Hour Monitoring
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
01:25ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias