La autopsia molecular en la muerte súbita cardiaca / Molecular autopsy in sudden cardiac death

Resumen Actualmente hay un porcentaje importante de autopsias que quedan sin un diag nóstico concluyente del fallecimiento, especialmente cuando este evento letal se produce súbitamente. El análisis genético se ha ido incorporando recientemente al campo de la medicina forense, sobre todo en aquellos pacientes que han fallecido de forma repentina, y donde no se identifica causa concluyente del fallecimiento tras una autopsia médico-legal completa. En estos casos las enfermedades eléctricas primarias son las principales responsables del fallecimiento. Hasta la fecha se han descrito más de 40 genes asociados a afecciones arritmogénicas causantes de muerte súbita cardiaca. Las principales enfermedades arritmogénicas son el síndrome de QT largo y la taquicardia ventricular; estudios genéticos post-mortem no solo permiten llevar a cabo un diagnóstico de la causa del fallecimiento, sino que también permiten una traslación clínica hacia los familiares, focalizado en la identificación precoz de individuos en riesgo de síncope, así como adopción de medidas terapéuticas personalizadas para la prevención de un episodio arrítmico letal.

Abstract Currently, there are a significant percentage of autopsies left without a conclusive diagnosis of death, especially when this lethal event occurs suddenly. Genetic analysis has been recently incorporated into the field of forensic medicine, especially in patients with sudden death and where no conclusive cause of death is identified after a complete medical- legal autopsy. Inherited arrhythmogenic diseases are the main cause of death in these cases. To date, more than 40 genes have been associated with arrhythmogenic disease, and causing sudden cardiac death has been described. The main arrhythmogenic diseases are Long QT Syndrome, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, Brugada Syndrome, and Short QT Syndrome. These post-mortem genetic studies, not only allow a diagnosis of the cause of death, but also allow a clinical translation in relatives, focusing on the early identification of individuals at risk of syncope, as well as adopting personalised therapeutic measures for the prevention of a lethal arrhythmic episode.

Retrospective Genetic Analysis of 200 Cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Its Relationship with Long QT Syndrome in Korea

BACKGROUND: There has been a campaign by the National Education on Sleeping Habits and Living Environment, to reduce the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, more than 100 infants die suddenly and unexplainably before the age of 1 year in Korea. Long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inheritable cardiac disease, has been reported to likely be associated with up to 14% of SIDS cases. However, genetic studies of the association between SIDS and LQTS have not yet been conducted in Korea. METHODS: We conducted genetic analysis using genomic DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 200 SIDS cases autopsied between 2005 and 2013. We analyzed the following genetic mutations associated with LQTS, KCNQ1, SCN5A, KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNJ2, and CAV3. RESULTS: Of the 200 SIDS cases, 58% involved male infants (116 male and 84 female infants, respectively), the mean age was 140 days (median, 107 days; range, 24–270 days), and they were all of Asian-Korean ethnicity. SIDS IA category criteria comprised 45 cases (22.5%) while the rest were SIDS IB. Fifteen infants (7.5%) had R1193Q in SCN5A, of doubtful pathogenicity, and no pathogenic LQTS variants were observed. CONCLUSION: This genetic investigation of LQTS in SIDS showed a low diagnostic yield. These findings suggest that LQTS molecular autopsy could be cautiously conducted in selected cases with family involvement to improve the available genetic counseling information. Meanwhile, a national SIDS registry should be established to document and evaluate the genetic risk of SIDS in Korea.

Canalopatías en muerte súbita: Relevancia clínica de autopsia molecular / Channelopathies in sudden death: Clinical relevance of molecular autopsy

ResumenLas canalopatías abarcan una serie síndromes arrítmicos caracterizados por una presentación inicial de muerte súbita o síncope, en personas en su mayoría jóvenes y conocidas sanas, que poseen una autopsia normal. Éstas se deben a mutaciones en los genes que codifican para canales iónicos de los miocitos cardíacos, así como las proteínas asociadas a si funcionamiento o traducción. Dada su asociación hereditaria, los familiares podrían tener un riesgo aumentado de presentar el trastorno pese a estar asintomáticas. Allí radica la importancia del mapeo genético en aquellas autopsias en las que no se ha identificado la causa de muerte. La autopsia molecular permite buscar e identificar estas mutaciones y correlacionar la muerte súbita con una canalopatía. Lo cual resulta esencial para la evaluación del riesgo y la prevención de otro episodio de muerte súbita cardíaca en familiares portadores.En este artículo se exponen las canalopatías más importantes asociadas a muerte súbita, y el impacto del mapeo genético en la prevención y manejo en familiares portadores.

AbstractChannelopathies include a series of syndromes characteristic of an initial presentation of sudden death or syncope, in persons mostly young and known healthy, who have a normal autopsy. These are due to mutations in the genes encoding ionic channels of cardiac myocytes, as well as the proteins associated with whether functioning or translation. Because of their hereditary association, relatives may be at increased risk of developing the disorder despite being asymptomatic. There lies the importance of genetic mapping in those autopsies in which the cause of death has not been identified. Molecular autopsy allows searching and identifying these mutations and correlating sudden death with a channelopathy. This is essential for the evaluation of risk and prevention of another episode of sudden cardiac death in family members. This article discusses the most important channelopathies associated with sudden death, and the impact of genetic mapping on prevention and management in family members.