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A family with recurrent sudden death and no clinical clue
Michael Arad1, Michael Glikson, Dalia El-Ani
1Leviev Heart Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. michael.arad@sheba.health.gov.il
Insights
Sudden cardiac death in children can be challenging to diagnose. Genetic testing identified catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) as the cause in a family with recurrent sudden cardiac events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Sudden cardiac death in children presents diagnostic challenges.
- Autopsy and clinical data were inconclusive in a family with recurrent cardiac events.
Observation:
- A teenage girl experienced recurrent ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death events.
- Family history revealed multiple instances of unexplained sudden cardiac death.
Findings:
- Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the cardiac ryanodine receptor gene.
- This mutation confirmed the diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).
Implications:
- Genetic testing is crucial for diagnosing CPVT in cases of sudden cardiac death.
- Early identification and management of asymptomatic carriers are vital for affected families.
Background:
Sudden cardiac death of a child is a devastating event for the family and an enormous challenge for the attending physician.
Methods And Results:
We report a family with repeat events of sudden cardiac death and recurrent ventricular fibrillation in a teenage girl, where autopsy data and clinical investigations were inconclusive. The diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) was established only following finding a gene mutation in the cardiac ryanodine receptor.
Conclusions:
Interpretation of autopsy data, provocation testing and genetic testing in victims of sudden death and family members are discussed to correctly identify the cause and properly manage asymptomatic carriers in such families.
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