Supraventricular tachycardias in ion channel diseases.

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias are a clinical finding that is seen to a varying extent in patients with ion channel diseases depending on the underlying genetic disease. In addition to the classical symptoms that they cause, they may trigger ventricular tachyarrhythmias or induce inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapies and, thus, cause psychological harm. Antiarrhythmic drugs can be used in some diseases, but are contraindicated in a number of genetic conditions. In these patients, catheter ablation is a good alternative and sometimes the only treatment choice. In young individuals with atrial fibrillation, ion channel diseases should be excluded, especially when there is familial disease or early onset of atrial fibrillation, in particular below 30 years of age.