Cardiac sodium channels and inherited electrophysiologic disorders: a pharmacogenetic overview.

Sodium (Na) channels are essential for cardiac electrical activity. Cardiac Na channel dysfunction, inherited or acquired, can induce life-threatening conduction and arrhythmia disorders. Inherited Na channel dysfunction may put affected patients at a greater risk for these complications when channel-modifying drugs are prescribed. This study addressed pharmacogenetic effects in three well-described Na channel-related diseases: long QT syndrome type 3, Brugada syndrome and inherited cardiac conduction disease. A review of the currently available literature on cardiac Na channel-modulating drugs was undertaken. An overview is given of the known risks of development of the previously mentioned complications of commonly prescribed drugs in patients affected with Na channel-related diseases and the underlying mechanisms.