scholarly journals Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy as a Cause of Palpitations and Syncope in an Otherwise Healthy Active Duty Female

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e2173-e2175
Author(s):  
John Blickle ◽  
Ramesh Venkataraman ◽  
Robert D McLeroy

ABSTRACT Identifying the cause of palpitations and syncope in the healthy, active duty military population is important. Most often, the causes are benign, but more malignant etiologies should not be overlooked. In this case, we present a 22-year-old active duty female soldier who developed exercise intolerance, palpitations, and ultimately one episode of exercise-induced syncope. Outpatient evaluation with Holter monitor revealed sustained ventricular tachycardia while exercising. Electrocardiogram revealed findings concerning for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy based on the 2010 Revised Task Force Criteria. Further investigation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging helped confirm the diagnosis. Sotalol was used as an antiarrhythmic therapy and an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. This case represents an uncommon cause of palpitations and syncope. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy should be on the differential diagnosis in the active duty population who present with exercise-induced syncope.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
J. S. Foo ◽  
C. H. Koh ◽  
A. Sahlén ◽  
H. C. Tang ◽  
C. P. Lim

Congenital absence of pericardium is a rare condition with electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and echocardiographic findings which may mimic those of other cardiac conditions. We present a case of a 19-year-old asymptomatic female with incidental cardiomegaly on chest X-ray and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes, which meet the revised task force criteria for definite arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy but subsequently confirmed to have congenital partial absence of pericardium on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweena Chungsomprasong ◽  
Robert Hamilton ◽  
Wietske Luining ◽  
Shi-Joon Yoo ◽  
Meena Fatah ◽  
...  

Background: Involvement of the left ventricle (LV) is increasingly recognized in adults with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) but it is unclear whether LV function is compromised in children with this condition. The aim of this study was examine myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with suspected ARVC. Methods: For this retrospective study, patients with a work-up for ARVC were classified into ‘no’, ‘possible’, ‘borderline’ or ‘definite’ ARVC according to the revised Task Force Criteria (rTFC). Ventricular size and function as well as LV myocardial strain and torsion were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Results: A total of 142 patients were enrolled, of whom 58 (41%) had no, 32 (23%) possible, 29 (20%) borderline and 23 (16%) definite ARVC. The groups were similar in age at CMR. With higher rTFC score, z scores (Z) of right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) were lower (p<0.001) while z-RV end diastolic volume (EDV) and z-LV EDV were larger (p=0.002 and 0.013, respectively). LV EF did not differ between rTFC categories. Global circumferential strain (GCS) of the LV was lower in patients in higher rTFC categories (p=0.018). Z-LVEDV correlated with z-RVEDV (r2 = 0.69, p<0.001) and z- LVEF correlated with z-RVEF (r2 = 0.55, p <0.001). Z-LVEF and z-RVEF correlated with LV GCS (r2 = 0.48, p<0.001 and r2 = 0.46, p<0.001, respectively) and torsion (r2 = 0.21, p=0.032 for both). Forty-two patients had a follow-up CMR, after a median interval of 2.6 years (0.4- 8.4). The rate of deterioration of LV or RV EF or EDV did not differ between rTFC categories. A more rapid increase of z-RVEDV was associated with a faster decline in z-RVEF (r2 = -0.383, p=0.004) and z-LVEF (r2 = -0.45, p=0.001). A decline of z-LVEF over time correlated with that of z-RVEF (r2 = 0.60, p<0.001) and z-LVEDV increase correlated with z-RVEDV increase (r2 = 0.84, p<0.001). Conclusion: LV myocardial dysfunction is present in young patients with suspected or confirmed ARVC. Quantification of myocardial mechanics with CMR may be a useful tool to detect early LV involvement in ARVC. Progressive LV dysfunction and enlargement appear to parallel those of the RV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Casella ◽  
Alessio Gasperetti ◽  
Rita Sicuso ◽  
Edoardo Conte ◽  
Valentina Catto ◽  
...  

Background: Arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC) is an under-characterized phenotype of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy involving the LV ab initio. ALVC was not included in the 2010 International Task Force Criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy diagnosis and data regarding this phenotype are scarce. Methods: Clinical characteristics were reported from all consecutive patients diagnosed with ALVC, defined as a LV isolated late gadolinium enhancement and fibro-fatty replacement at cardiac magnetic resonance plus genetic variants associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and of an endomyocardial biopsy showing fibro-fatty replacement complying with the 2010 International Task Force Criteria in the LV. Results: Twenty-five patients ALVC (53 [48–59] years, 60% male) were enrolled. T wave inversion in infero-lateral and left precordial leads were the most common ECG abnormalities. Overall arrhythmic burden at study inclusion was 56%. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed LV late gadolinium enhancement in the LV lateral and posterior basal segments in all patients. In 72% of the patients an invasive evaluation was performed, in which electroanatomical voltage mapping and electroanatomical voltage mapping-guided endomyocardial biopsy showed low endocardial voltages and fibro-fatty replacement in areas of late gadolinium enhancement presence. Genetic variants in desmosomal genes (desmoplakin and desmoglein-2) were identified in 12/25 of the cohort presenting pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants. A definite/borderline 2010 International Task Force Criteria arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy diagnosis was reached only in 11/25 patients. Conclusions: ALVC presents with a preferential involvement of the lateral and postero-lateral basal LV and is associated mostly with variants in desmoplakin and desmoglein-2 genes. An amendment to the current International Task Force Criteria is reasonable to better diagnose patients with ALVC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Christiansen ◽  
K Haugaa ◽  
A Svensson ◽  
T Gilljam ◽  
T Madsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Catheter ablation may reduce ventricular tachycardia (VT) burden in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients. However, little is known about factors predicting need for ablation and various outcomes have been reported. Purpose We sought to investigate predictors and use of VT ablation and to evaluate the post-procedural outcome in ARVC patients. Methods We studied 435 patients from the Nordic ARVC registry including 220 probands with definite ARVC according to the 2010 task force criteria and 215 mutation-carrying relatives identified through cascade screening. Patients were followed until first-time VT ablation, death, heart transplantation, or January 1st 2018. Additionally, patients undergoing VT ablation were further followed from the time of ablation for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. Results Cumulative use of VT ablation was 4% (95% CI 3%-6%) and 11% (95% CI 8%-15%) after 1 and 10 years. All procedures were performed in probands in whom the cumulative use was 8% (95% CI 5%-12%) and 20% (95% CI 15%-26%). In adjusted analyses restricted to probands, only young age predicted need for ablation. In patients undergoing ablation, risk of recurrent arrhythmias was 59% (95% CI 44%-71%) and 74% (95% CI 59%-84%) 1 and 5 years after the procedure. Despite high recurrence rates, the burden of ventricular arrhythmias was reduced after ablation (p=0.0042). Young age, use of several antiarrhythmic drugs and inducibility to VT immediately after ablation were associated with an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions Twenty percent of ARVC probands developed a clinical indication for VT ablation within 10 years after diagnosis whereas mutation-carrying relatives were without such need. Although the burden of ventricular arrhythmias decreased after ablation, risk of recurrence was substantial.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document