Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Cardiology Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

5 Cardiovascular research center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A structural heart disease or functional electrical abnormalities can cause an electrical storm.
Case presentation: We present a young boy with an electrical storm who had no cardiac risk factors and a positive family history of sudden cardiac death. The stepwise diagnostic approach was ineffective in determining previously known causes as the origin of the electrical storm. However, whole-exome sequencing (with Next Generation Illumina Sequencing) revealed a mutation in the GJB2 (NM_004004:exon2:c.G71A:p.W24X) gene.
CONCLUSION: A mutation in the GJB2 gene, which forms the connexin 26 protein, a crucial component of the myocytes’ intercalated disc of gap junction complex between the myocytes, results in an abnormal electrical cell-by-cell conductance, and, eventually, ventricular storm. General anesthesia was used to control the storm, and intracardiac pacing was fruitful in ceasing the subsequent VT storms.

Keywords

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