KCNQ1 and systemic sclerosis: In addition, since a decrease in the Kv7.1 current is associated with QT-interval prolongation arrhythmias, and this is a common cardiac conduction abnormality in established cardiac involvement SSc (late phases of the disease), we studied the effects of CO in recombinant Kv7.1 current, an important component of the cardiac action potential repolarization.