Discriminating long-QT syndromes 1, 2 and 3 in simulated body surface potential maps

Abstract

The objective of this work is to investigate alternative methods to distinguish between the first three types of the Long-QT syndrome by looking for differences in simulated Body Surface Potential Maps (BSMP). Research in this area would provide a better understanding of the voltage distribution affected by the mutations. A model of human ventricular myocytes was adapted to represent the behavior of the mutated channels and BSMP were simulated including the subtypes. Chapter two illustrates the heart structure both microscopically and macroscopically, giving a short introduction on cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology in order to provide the basics to get a better understanding of the theory behind this project. The Long-QT syndrome is described in chapter three. After an overview, channel kinetics and mutations behind this pathology are detailed for each of the studied subtypes. Current diagnosis methods are also explained and disadvantages are exposed. The methods and procedures followed in this study are explained in depth in chapter four. Starting with electrophysiological modeling until BSPM simulation all the techniques and processes that were carried out are described together with the necessary mathematical background. That leads to chapter five, where all the obtained results are displayed. Finally, chapter 6 provides a summary of the project and chapter 7 describes the limitations of this work and points out perspectives for future investigations.