Short QT syndrome

The short QT syndrome is a congenital heart disease. It is characterized by a short QT interval (less than 330 ms) in the ECG and a high risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Another striking in the ECG are high, peaked T waves, similar to those in the hyperkalemia.

The disease was first described in 2000. In molecular genetic studies mutations were found in genes coding for potassium channels in the heart muscle cells.