noun
- A disease or disorder caused by dysfunction of ion channels in cell membranes, affecting the flow of ions and electrical signaling in cells.
Usage: medical/scientific term; typically used in neurology and genetics
Examples
- Cystic fibrosis is a channelopathy affecting chloride ion channels in the lungs.
- Long QT syndrome is a cardiac channelopathy that can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Researchers are studying channelopathies to develop better treatments for neurological diseases.
- Some forms of epilepsy result from channelopathies involving sodium or potassium channels.
- The patient was diagnosed with a channelopathy after genetic testing revealed mutations in ion channel genes.