Congenital Long QT Syndrome (cLQTS)
Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a rare genetic condition that causes an elongation between the Q and T waves during a heartbeat. The lengthening of the interval can lead to unexpected and life-threatening arrhythmias called torsades de pointes. These arrhythmias are generally in response to exercise and stress.
“LQTS affects males and females in equal numbers and has been identified in all ethnic groups…It is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 2,000,” NORD - National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Often undiagnosed, it is believed to result in 3,000 to 4,000 sudden deaths in children and young adults each year in the United States.
Symptoms Include:
Fainting or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle.
Family history of unexplained syncope, unexplained seizures, or sudden death in a young person.
Congenital Long QT Syndrome & SGK1
Data suggests SGK1 is a prime target for shortening the QT interval and regulate heart rhythm in LQTS Types 1, 2, and 3, which account for approximately 90% of all people with LQTS.
At Thryv Therapeutics, we are developing potent SGK1 inhibitors to treat cLQTS. Scientists and collaborators at Thryv Therapeutics have demonstrated that treatment of cellular and animal models of LQTS with SGK1 inhibitors can substantially reduce the potential for a prolonged QT interval. Studies have shown a direct correlation between the length of increase in the QT interval and the risk of sudden death in LQTS patients, and shortening this interval would result in a reduction of sudden death and other cardiac arrhythmias.
Read about Long QT Syndrome and Its Various Types and the Prevalence of Long QT Syndrome, or access our latest presentations.
If you are concerned about your personal health, please speak to a specialist or your healthcare provider urgently.
More information can be found online at the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation