Jump to comment:
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Sudden Cardiac Death and EthnicityRE: Sudden Cardiac Death and Ethnicity
We read with interest the article of Drs. Fanou and Dorian on the prevention and management of sudden cardiac arrest and/or death (SCD) in athletes [1]. As pediatrician and pediatric pathologist, I came across a few of these events during my career. It is indeed one of the most tragic events a physician experience. This boy/girl is full of vitality and at the start of life and suddenly everything collapses for the youth, but also for parents and friends. Although considered a rare event, when it does occur, it strikes in the family and social media. Pathologists, who are expert in dissecting congenital heart disease, remain crucial notwithstanding the molecular biology investigations of ion channels [2]. SCD is not always associated with underlying cardiac pathology but the decline of autopsy rate may be a problem in keeping the professional skills of the new generation of pathologists. Recently, Kong et al. conducted a meta-analysis to assess the mean allele frequencies of channelopathy genes SCN5A, NOS1AP, KCNH2, KCNE1, and KCNQ1 among the Black, Caucasian, Asian, and Hispanic ethnicities [3]. Asians have the highest overall mean allele frequencies of NOS1AP, and SCN5A frequencies. Conversely, Caucasians had the highest KCNH2 frequency, and Hispanics the highest KCNQ1 frequency. The Exome Aggregation Consortium also provided consistent data in agreement with the meta-analysis indicating that Asians carry the most alleles of genes associated with SCD. Channelopathies and...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.