SHORT QT SYNDROME

The target of this publication is to make a dipper view and to let know to the scientific medical sommunity about the recently description of the short QT syndrome as a heart primary electrical disease, asociated to a high sudden death risk due to malignat ventricular arrhythmias and to atrial fibrillation episodes. It is emphasized that this situation can be frequently found in young people, without a structural cardiac disease. The identified mutations in synthesis codificator genes of potassium channels implies a profit of its function, and therefore a reduction in the potencial action duration and in atrial and ventricular refractory periods. The electrocardiogram shows a QT interval smaller than 300 ms with sharp T wave, although with an intermittent character. The diagnosis requires the exclusion of physiological and extrinsic causes that make shorter the QT interval. It is concluded that the short QT syndrome, though unfrequent, must be widely known by the specialized medical staff because of the prognosis implications that it has and because the implantion of an automatic desfibrillator constitutes first line therapy in symptomatic patients. The a class III antiarrhythmic drugs, specially quinidine, represent another therapeutic option.