Congenital heart defects & inherited cardiac diseases Flashcards
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
An unexplained and often substantial thickening of the myocardium of the ventricular wall
How much a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present?
Asymptomatic
OR
Dyspnoea, chest pain, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, syncope, sudden cardiac death
Why must you establish whether a patient is suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure?
The symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mimic those of congestive heart failure, but treatment with diuretics will worsen symptoms (due to decreased ventricular volume and increased outflow resistance)
Is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy inherited in an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern?
Dominant
What is the genetic mutation that causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Mutation in sarcomeric genes resulting in mutated cardiac muscle proteins
Is the hypertrophy symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Asymmetrical - usually involving interventricular septum
Which is the most common heart chamber involved in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Left ventricle
When does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy commonly present itself?
Post-puberty in early adulthood
What are some of the serious complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricular arrhythmias
Sudden death
What is the first line treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Beta-blockers
What is the second line treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Calcium channel antagonists i.e. verapamil
What is arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)?
Progressive loss of right ventricular myocytes with associated fibrosis, inflammation and adipose tissue replacement
What is the most important/common complication of ARVC?
Ventricular arrhythmias due to loss of functional RV myocardium by fibrofatty replacement
What genetic mutation leads to ARVC?
Genetic defect of genes encoding for desmosomal proteins
Inherited in autosomal dominant pattern
What are some of the symptoms of ARVC?
Syncope
Palpitations
How might ARVC present on an ECG?
T wave inversion in leads V1-V3
Right bundle branch block epsilon wave after QRS