National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome



Other Names:
JLNS1; Deafness, congenital, and functional heart disease; Prolonged QT interval in EKG and sudden death; JLNS1; Deafness, congenital, and functional heart disease; Prolonged QT interval in EKG and sudden death; Cardioauditory syndrome of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen; Surdo-cardiac syndrome; Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome; Long QT interval-deafness syndrome See More
Categories:

Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) is an inherited disorder characterized by deafness present at birth and abnormalities of the electrical system of the heart. It is a form of long QT syndrome. This refers to the QT interval measurement seen on the electrocardiogram. The severity of cardiac symptoms seen in individuals varies from no apparent symptoms to increasing heartbeat (tachycardia), fainting, and cardiac arrest. There are two different types of JLNS type: 1, caused by mutations in the KCNQ1 gene, and type 2, caused by mutations in the KCNE1 gene. Both types are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The treatment of individuals with JLNS focuses on treating hearing loss utilizing devices such as cochlear implants and preventing other symptoms such as fainting and cardiac arrest.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 6/17/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment 0008619
Profound sensorineural hearing impairment 0011476
Prolonged QTc interval 0005184
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Loss of consciousness
Passing out
0007185
Postexertional malaise 0030973
Syncope
Fainting spell
0001279
Torsade de pointes 0001664
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Iron deficiency anemia 0001891
Seizure 0001250
Ventricular fibrillation 0001663
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Congenital sensorineural hearing impairment 0008527
Prolonged QT interval 0001657
Sudden cardiac death
Premature sudden cardiac death
0001645
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • Orphanet lists international laboratories offering diagnostic testing for this condition.

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnosis for hearing loss includes other forms of syndromic and nonsyndromic congenital and acquired disorders associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Differential diagnosis for cardiac events includes Romano-Ward syndrome and other forms of LQTS (see these terms), electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia), orthostatic hypotension, vasovagal syncope, and drug-induced LQTS.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.
  • Orphanet lists European clinical trials, research studies, and patient registries enrolling people with this condition. 

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
    JLNS type 1
    JLNS type 2
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) lists the subtypes and associated genes for Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome in a table called Phenotypic Series. Each entry in OMIM includes a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Videos/Presentations


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  1. Dr Giuseppe CELANO, Dr Lia CROTTI, Dr Federica DAGRADI, Pr Peter SCHWARTZ. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome. Orphanet. October 2009; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=90647. Accessed 6/17/2016.
  2. Theresa Lai, Lisbeth Tranebjærg. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome. NORD. 2016; http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/jervell-and-lange-nielsen-syndrome/.
  3. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. April 2006; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/jervell-and-lange-nielsen-syndrome. Accessed 6/17/2016.