The Use of Oral Labetalol in the Treatment of Arrhythmias Associated with the Long QT Syndrome

A 7-year-old white boy with the long QT syndrome began to experience recurrent syncope associated with torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia in spite of beta-blocker therapy. The patient was therefore given a combined alphaand beta-blocking agent (labetalol) with complete suppression of the syncopal episodes. This suggests a role for combined alpha- and beta-blocking agents in the therapy of arrhythmias associated with the long QT syndrome.