<p>The goal of this study was to identify genetic risk factors for drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval (diLQT) and the ventricular arrhythmia torsades de pointes (TdP). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focusing on subjects with a history of long QT and/or TdP after taking medication. Controls for this study were individuals with a history of cardiac arrhythmias who had begun treatment with potentially QT-prolonging antiarrhythmics. An additional control group of normal volunteers were given ibutilide, a drug with documented proarrhythmic properties. All study participants were recruited and treated/evaluated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.</p> <p>This study was conducted by the Pharmacogenomics of Arrhythmia Therapy subgroup of the Pharmacogenetics Research Network, a nationwide collaboration of scientists studying the genetic contributions to drug response variability. Genotyping was performed by the RIKEN research institute in Japan using the Illumina 610 Quad Beadchip platform.</p>

A Genome-Wide Association Study in Patients Experiencing Drug-Induced    Long-QT Syndrome and/or Torsades de Pointes; A Collaboration Between    the NIH Pharmacogenomics Research Network and the RIKEN Yokohama    Institute Center for Genomic Medicine