Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Enhancing Detection using Systematic Screening

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the leading indication for heart transplantation in New Zealand (NZ). The familial subtype (FDCM) is aggressive, presents early, and is implicated in up to 50% of idiopathic DCM (IDCM). Diagnosis requires an affected individual having ≥2 affected close relatives. Adequate family pedigree analysis is diagnostically essential, and screening relatives is imperative as pre-symptomatic therapy improves outcomes. We utilised a validated family history survey to screen our NZ heart transplant population for FDCM more systematically.

Source: Heart, Lung and Circulation - June 23, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: M. Stubbs, J. Skinner, P. Ruygrok Tags: 088 Source Type: research