About deafness-functional heart disease

What is deafness-functional heart disease?

General Discussion

Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by deafness present at birth (congenital) occurring in association with abnormalities affecting the electrical system of the heart. The severity of cardiac symptoms associated with JLNS varies from case to case. Some individuals may have no apparent symptoms (asymptomatic); others may develop abnormally increased heartbeats (tachyarrhythmias) resulting in episodes of unconsciousness (syncope), cardiac arrest, and potentially sudden death. Physical activity, excitement, fright, or stress may trigger the onset of these symptoms. Fainting during the aforementioned activities is also a classic sign of JLNS. JLNS is usually detected during early childhood and is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. More than half of the untreated cases of JLNS result in death before the age of 15. Anton Jervell and Fred Lange-Nielsen provided the first complete description of the electrical conduction problem in the heart called long QT syndrome (LQTS) in 1957. LQTS refers to the QT-interval measured on the electrocardiogram that indicates that the heart muscle is taking longer than usual to recharge between beats. It predisposes those affected to tachyarrhythmias called torsade de pointes (TdP) which leads to syncope and may cause sudden cardiac death.

What are the symptoms for deafness-functional heart disease?

Pressure symptom was found in the deafness-functional heart disease condition

Symptoms of JLNS are usually apparent during early childhood. Hearing loss is detected at birth or during early childhood. Hearing loss associated with JLNS is caused by the inability of the auditory nerves to transmit sensory information to the brain (sensorineural hearing loss) and affects both ears (bilateral). In JLNS hearing loss is usually profound, but it tends to affect the hearing of high frequencies more than low frequencies. Low levels of iron and increased levels of gastrin are often present in patients with JLNS, possibly leading to iron deficient anemia.

The most common cardiac symptom associated with JLNS is partial or total loss of consciousness (syncope or Fainting) accompanied by abnormally fast heart rhythms known as torsade de pointes (TdPs). TdPs may progress to a more serious condition known as ventricular fibrillation in which the heart’s normal electrical activity becomes disordered resulting in uncoordinated heartbeats and malfunction of the main pumping chambers of the heart (ventricles). Consequently, little or no blood is pumped from the heart. Ventricular fibrillation potentially results in cardiac arrest or sudden death.

Symptoms of JLNS such as syncope tend to occur without warning and to recur unexpectedly. Overexertion, excitement or stress may trigger these recurrent symptoms, although they often begin without any particular cause too. In some cases, episodes may be triggered by “startle” events such as an alarm clock going off or the phone ringing in the middle of the night. The severity and frequency of attacks vary. Some people may have mild Chest pain with no loss of consciousness; others may lose consciousness completely or have grand mal Seizures followed by a period of disorientation. In some cases Seizures may be the first presenting cardiac symptom of JLNS. The severity and frequency of episodes often decrease during middle age. The Seizures are frequently misdiagnosed as epilepsy and treated accordingly for several years before the correct diagnosis is made.

What are the causes for deafness-functional heart disease?

Researchers have determined that most cases of JLNS are caused by disruptions or changes (mutations) of one of two different genes (KCNQ1 or KCNE1). Most of these mutations result in the truncation, or premature shortening of the protein length. This results in a dysfunctional protein. More than 90 percent of cases of JLNS are caused by mutations of the KCNQ1 gene. These two genes produce (encode) proteins essential to the function of the ion channels of the heart and the snail-like tube that forms part of the inner ear (cochlea). Ion channels regulate the movement of electrically charged particles (e.g., potassium and sodium ions) in certain structures of the ear and heart. These ions carry electrical impulses necessary for hearing and the normal function of the heart. Mutations of these genes result in abnormal function of the ion channels and, in turn, affect hearing and the proper function of the heart’s electrical system.

JLNS is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in both copies of a gene, one received from the father and one from the mother.

Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be heterozygous and a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. Some carriers of a KCNQ1 or KCNE1 gene mutation have disruption of the normal cardiac rhythm, but their hearing is usually normal. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the altered gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents is 25%. Among unaffected sibs in a sibship with a recessive disorder, the risk of being a carrier is 2/3, or 67%.

Some patients with JLNS have had parents who were related by blood (consanguineous). All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.

What are the treatments for deafness-functional heart disease?

Treatment The treatment of individuals with JLNS is aimed at treating hearing loss and preventing characteristic symptoms such as loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest. Specific medications, avoidance of triggering events such as competitive sports, triggers that elicit intense emotions (Tranebjaerg L et al, GeneReviews), and certain medical devices may all be used to treat individuals with JLNS.

Hearing loss in individuals with JLNS may be treated with a small device known as a cochlear implant. Unlike hearing aids, which increase and clarify sound, a cochlear implant improves hearing by stimulating nerve fibers within the inner ear.

The treatment of choice for cardiac abnormalities in most individuals with JLNS is drug therapy with beta-adrenergic agents (beta blockers). Beta blockers, which include propranolol, atenolol, and nadolol, reduce the workload of the heart by decreasing the electrical stimulation of the heart.

Individuals for whom beta blockers are unsuccessful may be treated by a surgical procedure in which certain nerves going to the heart are removed (left cardiac sympathetic denervation or sympathectomy). However, recently treatment with an implantable automatic cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has replaced sympathectomy as the treatment of choice in these individuals. This device detects the abnormal heartbeat automatically and selectively delivers an electrical impulse to the heart. ICDs are used in conjunction with antiarrhythmic drug therapy.

Some individuals with JLNS are encouraged to avoid potential triggering events such as jumping into cold water, amusement park rides or competitive sports. Individuals with JLNS and professionals treating these patients for various diseases including those unrelated to JLNS, are strongly encouraged to be familiar with all the types of medication which may provoke serious cardiac attacks (https://www.crediblemeds.org/)

Genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

What are the risk factors for deafness-functional heart disease?

Deafness functional heart disease can impair the cardiovascular health of the patient and affect both the peripheral and central auditory systems, mostly common among older people. Heart is responsible for pumping blood and bringing oxygen to the whole body. The heart disease results in poor circulation and may reduce sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain. This can cause the nerve cells to be destroyed or damaged which causes permanent hearing loss.

  • Hypertension caused due to high blood pressure could be related to atherosclerotic disease, in which the wall lining of the blood vessels is thickened and this is what may lead to less blood supply in the ear.
    •With the buildup of plaque in the arteries the heart has to work a lot harder to supply oxygen and blood to the entire body.
    •Hence, when the ear doesn’t receive enough blood supply it leads to hearing loss.
  • A significant link can be seen between hearing loss and heart disease. There are several other risk factors as well adding on to that, for hearing loss and heart disease. The factors are:
    •High blood pressure
    •High cholesterol
    •Diabetes
    •Poor Dietary habits
    •Decreased activity/ Inactivity
    •Increased alcohol consumption
    •Increased stress
List of symptoms
Chest pain,Palpitations,High blood pressure,Cardiac arrest,Difficulty understanding words,Frequently asking people to talk louder, Muffling of speech or other sounds, etc

List of conditions
Coronary artery disease,Diseased vessels,Blood clots,Congestive heart failure,Stroke, Arrhythmia,Sensorineural hearing loss,Conductive hearing loss

List of Drugs
Beta blockers,Aaspirin,Statins,Warfarin,Diuretics, clopidogrel

Is there a cure/medications for deafness-functional heart disease?

Deafness functional heart disease is a correlation between hearing loss and heart disease. Having it can affect your cardiovascular health significantly and at the same time affect your auditory systems as well. Heart is responsible for pumping blood and supplying oxygen to the entire body. The heart disease results in poor circulation of blood and oxygen, and leads to reduction in enough oxygen reaching the brain. This can cause the nerve cells to be destroyed or damaged which causes permanent hearing loss. Hypertension may also be another cause of hearing loss.

Cure/medications for deafness functional heart disease

  • Complete cure of this disease is only possible in limited cases. If you have mild problems then there are chances heart disease with hearing loss can be cured.
  • But overall once you are encountered with this disease it is incurable.
  • You can definitely improve your quality of life by making changes in your lifestyle such as:
  • Stop smoking
  • Control blood pressure
  • Keep diabetes and cholesterol under control
  • Exercise
  • Manage stress healthily
  • Eat healthy food
  • Maintain body weight

Treatments include using hearing aids or cochlear implant, medication, surgery, etc can prevent the symptoms from affecting your day-to-day life.

List of symptoms
Chest pain,Palpitations,High blood pressure,Cardiac arrest,Difficulty understanding words,Frequently asking people to talk louder, Muffling of speech or other sounds, etc

List of conditions
Coronary artery disease,Diseased vessels,Blood clots,Congestive heart failure,Stroke, Arrhythmia,Sensorineural hearing loss,Conductive hearing loss

List of Drugs
Beta blockers,Aaspirin,Statins,Warfarin,Diuretics, clopidogrel

Video related to deafness-functional heart disease