This arrhythmic condition, identifiable by a distinctive ECG pattern, kills Southeast Asians in their 20s, 30s and 40s suddenly at night.
Sufferers have normal cardiac anatomy.
There were no deaths in the defibrillator arm of the study. Because of the number of deaths in the beta-blocker group, the Data Safety Monitoring Board stopped the trial in December 2000. Southeast Asian people who have emigrated to the U.S. and other countries may not know their genetic risk because they are separated from their family members. Persons in this population who are concerned should consult a physician. A simple ECG test is the first step in identifying persons who may carry this hereditary condition.