A Registry to Determine the Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors for Torsade De Pointes

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE Drug-induced long QT syndrome (LQTS), and the subsequent fatal
arrhythmia torsade de pointes (TdP), is an important side effect associated with the use of a
number of medications. Prolongation of the QT interval is the most common cause of withdrawal
of medications already on the market, and despite the relatively rarity with
non-cardiovascular drugs, the public health impact is magnified by the fact that drug-induced
TdP can occur with medications used for benign conditions, such as allergic rhinitis. The QT
interval is heritable, and a number of common genetic variants have been associated with QT
interval in large population studies.

Although common genetic variants associated with sudden cardiac death have been identified,
studies specifically identifying variants associated with drug-induced LQTS and TdP are
limited. Smaller studies have suggested that variants of genes associated with QT interval
duration in the population in general are also associated with the risk of drug-induced QT
prolongation and TdP, but larger studies are needed. Moreover, an improved ability to predict
the causes of TdP requires a careful search for clinical factors associated with TdP compared
to controls.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A. Study Design and Enrollment: We propose to conduct a multi-center research study to
examine known and explore potentially unknown genetic and clinical predictors of torsade de
pointes (TdP) also known as acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS) through creation of a registry.
Any patient with a documented history of a torsade de pointes (TdP) event will be eligible.
Patients must be able to understand the risks of genetic testing, and be willing to undergo a
venipuncture for blood collection for genotyping. Exclusion criteria include inability to
provide informed consent. We plan to enroll a total of 200 study participants total across
all participating centers. Massachusetts General Hospital will be the coordinating center of
this multi-center study of medical institutions within the greater Boston and New England
area. In a substudy to take place at MGH, subjects will be invited to have a punch biopsy of
the skin to allow creation of inducible pluripotent stem cells that can be differentiated
into cardiomyocytes for further characterization of the repolarization phenotype.

B. Study Procedures: We will screen patients for enrollment including both retrospective
(event prior to the start of the study) and prospective (event following the start of the
study) components. Patients will be identified by investigators based on clinical
characteristics, and following explanation of the study by co-investigators, will be asked
about participation either during routine scheduled follow-up (for retrospective cases) or at
the sentinel event. Investigators will complete a data collection form for each patient,
which will include contact information, demographic information, clinical information, family
history and pedigree, and all electrocardiography information available (12-lead ECGs, rhythm
strips and summary reports). No information about mental illness will be collected. Patients
will then undergo venipuncture, and four 5mL blood samples will be collected for genotyping
and plasma analysis. For patients who are willing, a 3mm punch biopsy from the shoulder,
upper thigh, small of the back, or buttock (subject's choice) will be obtained for fibroblast
culture. Patients who are recruited at non-MGH sites will have a visit to MGH scheduled in
order to obtain the skin biopsy. Induced pluripotent stem cells will be made from the
fibroblast cultures and differentiated to cardiomyocytes in order to assess the cellular
phenotype. Patients will also be consented for future re-contact about additional data,
information, or samples needed for analysis. All clinical information and samples (including
DNA and blood) collected at participating centers will be transferred to Dr. Newton-Cheh at
MGH for storage and analysis.

For simplicity, we will plan to include all possible cases of TdP meeting criteria (see
below) into the registry.

Exclusion criteria include:

1. age <18 years old

2. inability to obtain informed consent from the patient or a family member

3. no exclusion on the basis of race or gender.

Inclusion:

torsade de pointes clinical syndrome according to one of the following three clinical
criteria:

1. Definite TdP: At least 3 beats of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) or
ventricular fibrillation (VF) on a 12-lead ECG or rhythm strip with documented QTc >
450 ms in men or QTc > 470 in women (excluding patients with conduction block or AF at
baseline, see below) prior to arrhythmic event.

2. Probable TdP: At least 3 beats of polymorphic VT or VF on a 12-lead ECG or rhythm
strip with QTc > 450ms (men) or 470ms (women) after the event, or polymorphic VT or VF
episode not meeting criteria for 'definite TdP' but determined by the adjudicating
physician to be likely TdP. For patients having a cardiac arrest, at least 1 hour
after restoration of normal rhythm or after secondary hypoxia or electrolyte
abnormalities have been ruled out (confounders of QT prolongation often seen
post-arrest47) will be required.

3. Possible TdP: Unexplained syncope in a patient presenting with QTc > 450ms (men) or
470ms (women).