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Published on: August 8, 2022
Diagnosis, prevalence, and screening of familial dilated cardiomyopathy
Mary Sweet1, Matthew R G Taylor2, Luisa Mestroni2
1Cardiovascular Institute and Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA; Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Insights
Genetic screening is crucial for diagnosing familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), an inherited heart condition. Identifying genetic mutations aids in understanding disease etiology and prognosis for at-risk family members.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent form of cardiomyopathy.
- DCM frequently exhibits familial clustering, indicating a significant hereditary component.
- Understanding diagnostic procedures and genetic screening is vital for familial DCM (FDC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of genetic screening in familial DCM.
- To discuss the role of genetic testing in identifying disease etiology.
- To explore the potential prognostic insights from genetic testing in FDC.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic studies identifying causative mutations in FDC.
- Emphasis on the critical role of patient and family history in genetic analysis.
- Reference to clinical guidelines recommending genetic testing for at-risk individuals.
Main Results:
- Genetic mutations are identified in 30-40% of familial DCM cases.
- Genetic testing provides a resource for families to determine disease cause.
- Genetic testing may offer prognostic information for some patients.
Conclusions:
- Future FDC research will focus on the 60-70% of unknown genetic causes.
- Investigating regulatory regions and copy number variation is essential.
- Understanding genetic and environmental modifiers and functional investigations will be key.
Introduction:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common cardiomyopathy and occurs often in families. As an inherited disease, understanding the significance of diagnostic procedures and genetic screening within families is of utmost importance.
Areas Covered:
Genetic studies have shown that in 30-40% of familial DCM (FDC) cases a causative genetic mutation can be identified. Successful genetic analysis is highly dependent on close examination of patient and family history, and clinical guidelines exist recommending genetic testing to aid in the evaluation of family members at risk of developing FDC. Clinical genetic testing offers a resource for families to identify the etiology of their disease, and in some cases may provide clinical prognostic insight.
Expert Opinion:
As an inherited disease, future FCD studies will focus on elucidating the remaining 60-70% of genetic causes in inherited cases and the pathogenic mechanisms leading to the phenotype. Specifically, a focus on regulatory regions, copy number variation, genetic and environmental modifiers and functional confirmatory investigations will be essential.
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Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
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Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

