Exercise and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a group of cardiomyopathies associated with ventricular arrhythmias predominantly arising from the right ventricle, sudden cardiac death and right ventricular failure, caused largely due to inherited mutations in proteins of the desmosomal complex. Whilst long recognised as a cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) during exercise, it has recently been recognised that intense and prolonged exercise can worsen the disease resulting in earlier and more severe phenotypic expression. Changes in cardiac structure and function as a result of exercise training also pose challenges with diagnosis as enlargement of the right ventricle is commonly seen in endurance athletes. Advice regarding restriction of exercise is an important part of patient management, not only of those with established disease, but also in individuals known to carry gene mutations associated with development of ARVC.