[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and sudden cardiac death]

ARVD manifests itself by a wide spectrum of clinical presentations from asymptomatic patients to a broad range of ventricular arrhythmia, extrasystoles, tachycardia, or sudden arrhythmic death which can be the first symptom. It is a major cause for sudden death in young people and sportsmen. In known ARVD the risk of sudden death is not easy to assess from the literature, as its natural history is modulated by the wide variety of antiarrhythmic therapies. Hemodynamically ill tolerated ventricular arrhythmia, left ventricular involvement, sports, a youger age below 35, and uncontrolled therapy seem to predict an adverse outcome for these patients. These data may be helpful to decide for an AICD.