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Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD),
also known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy (ARVC), is an inherited cause for sudden cardiac
arrest. In ARVD, there is progressive replacement of the normal
tissue of the right ventricle by fat and fibrous tissue (scar
tissue). This may lead to abnormal electrical activity of the
right ventricle and potentially dangerous arrhythmias. ARVD may
be diagnosed by characteristic abnormalities of the
electrocardiogram and by sophisticated imaging tests of the
heart.
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Brugada Syndrome (BS)
is a genetic cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Lethal arrhythmia
(irregularity of the heart rhythm) may arise from the
ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, which prevent the
ventricles from contracting effectively. Without prompt
defibrillation (electrical shock), death may ensue within a few
minutes. Brugada syndrome may be diagnosed before such an event
by characteristic abnormalities on the electrocardiogram.
(read more)
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Familial Dilated
Cardiomyopathy
causing heart failure is a progressive condition in
which the heart's muscle becomes weakened after
injury and gradually loses its ability to pump
enough blood to supply the body's needs. Many people
are unaware of the diagnosis because the symptoms
are often mistaken for the subtle symptoms of
advancing age. Heart failure usually does not
develop overnight – it is a progressive disease that
starts slowly and gets worse over time. Though most
cases of dilated cardiomyopathy occur in a sporadic
pattern, dilated cardiomyopathy may be inherited and
affect multiple family members.
(read more)
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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
(HCM)
is a complex cardiac disease marked by thickening of
the heart muscle. In HCM patients this thickening
occurs for no apparent clinical cause like
significant high blood pressure. The disease doesn't
affect everyone the same way, with different degrees
of muscular wall thickening and a variety of
symptoms. Patients may have shortness of breath,
exercise intolerance, chest pressure or pain,
fainting, or no symptoms at all. In unusual cases
HCM can cause sudden cardiac death.
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Congenital Long QT Syndrome(LQTS)
is a genetic disorder that can lead to abnormal
electrical activity in the
heart muscle known as arrhythmia. The many different
mutations that lead to congenital LQTS are commonly
called channelopathies. Channelopathies are
disorders caused by mutations in genes that encode
for protein channels. These mutations lead to
disrupted flow of sodium, potassium, and calcium
ions in and out of the cardiac muscle cell. The
ventricular arrhythmias caused by Long QT syndrome
can result in loss of consciousness or sudden death
in children and young adults. Identification of an
abnormal electrocardiogram (EKG) can diagnosis
patients with this condition: the EKG shows a
prolonged QT interval and/or abnormal T wave shape.
(read more) |
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