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Prognostic impact of familial screening in dilated cardiomyopathy

Michele Moretti1, Marco Merlo, Giulia Barbati

  • 1Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti and University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. michele.moretti@gmail.com

European Journal of Heart Failure
|June 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Familial screening for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) identifies patients earlier, improving survival. This proactive approach in identifying familial DCM (FDC) cases offers a better long-term prognosis compared to sporadic forms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant cause of heart failure.
  • Familial screening aids early diagnosis in relatives of affected individuals.
  • The long-term prognosis of familial DCM (FDC) versus sporadic DCM is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the long-term prognosis of FDC and sporadic DCM.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of familial screening in DCM management.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 637 DCM patients enrolled between 1988 and 2007.
  • Comparison of 48 non-proband FDC patients with 96 matched sporadic DCM patients.
  • Survival analysis free from heart transplant at 2, 5, and 10 years.

Main Results:

  • FDC patients identified via screening were younger, less symptomatic, and had better ejection fraction at enrollment.
  • Survival free from heart transplant was significantly better in NP-FDC patients (82% at 10 years) compared to sporadic DCM (62% at 10 years).
  • No survival difference was observed after stratification by New York Heart Association (NYHA) class.

Conclusions:

  • Family screening effectively identifies DCM patients at an earlier disease stage, potentially improving survival.
  • The improved prognosis suggests a benefit of early detection through familial screening.
  • Family screening is recommended for all DCM patients to facilitate early diagnosis and management.
Abstract

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