Role of vagotony in sinus node dysfunction in children with symptomatic congenital long QT syndrome

The present study examined chronotropic dysfunction and the role of vagotony in congenital long QT syndrome, sinus node function and the effects of parasympathetic blockade. Six patients with congenital long QT syndrome were studied. The four males and two females, aged 1-15 years, had episodes of syncope and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Congenital long QT syndrome was defined as a corrected QT interval greater than 0.45 s, T wave alternans and the age at diagnosis. The sinus heart rate measured from a 24 h electrocardiograph was abnormally low (< 50 min) in three patients (1, 4 and 5 years old) and did not increase sufficiently with the administration of atropine in five of the six patients with congenital long QT syndrome. From intracardiac electrophysiological studies, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged in three patients and the total sinoatrial conduction time was prolonged in two patients. In most patients who had an abnormally long sinoatrial conduction time and corrected sinus node recovery time, these values returned to normal following atropine administration. In one patient, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged paradoxically by atropine. Sinus node dysfunction in congenital long QT syndrome was affected by vagotony associated with a right sympathetic nerve system abnormality.