Related Experiment Videos
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia in the elderly
Daniel More1, Kevin O'Brien, Janet Shaw
1Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas 78236, USA. drmusaf@earthlink.net
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|October 3, 2002
Summary
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) can affect older adults, presenting as dilated cardiomyopathy. Early ECG diagnosis is crucial for all ages with suspected ARVD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a genetic heart condition.
- It typically involves fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium.
- ARVD is characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and can be misdiagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy.
Observation:
- This report details two elderly male patients with newly symptomatic ARVD.
- These cases represent potentially the oldest ARVD patients documented in medical literature.
- The patients presented with clinical syndromes consistent with ARVD.
Findings:
- ARVD may be underdiagnosed in older populations.
- Histological findings confirmed fibrofatty myocardial replacement.
- ECG findings were supportive of the ARVD diagnosis.
Implications:
- Consider ARVD in elderly patients presenting with ventricular arrhythmias or dilated cardiomyopathy.
- ECG is a vital tool for diagnosing ARVD across all age groups.
- Raising awareness of ARVD in older adults is essential for timely diagnosis and management.