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Systemic Diseases and Heart Block

Syed Rafay A Sabzwari1, Wendy S Tzou2

  • 1University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Mail Stop B130, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics
|October 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Systemic diseases can cause heart block in patients under 60. Evaluation for infiltrative, rheumatologic, endocrine, and neuromuscular disorders is crucial for identifying underlying causes of heart block.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Systemic diseases can affect the myocardium and cardiac conduction system.
  • Heart block in younger individuals (<60 years) warrants investigation for underlying systemic causes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review systemic diseases that can lead to heart block.
  • To categorize these systemic disorders and their mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of systemic diseases causing heart block.
  • Classification of disorders into infiltrative, rheumatologic, endocrine, and neuromuscular categories.

Main Results:

  • Infiltrative diseases like cardiac amyloidosis and sarcoidosis can infiltrate the conduction system.
  • Rheumatologic disorders (atherosclerosis, vasculitis, myocarditis) contribute to heart block.
  • Hereditary neuromuscular diseases (myotonic, Becker, Duchenne muscular dystrophies) involve the myocardium and can cause heart block.

Conclusions:

  • Systemic diseases are a significant cause of heart block, particularly in younger patients.
  • Early evaluation for systemic conditions is essential for appropriate management of heart block.

Keywords:
AmyloidosisAtrioventricular nodeHeart blockMuscular dystrophiesRheumatologic disordersSarcoidosisSystemic lupus erythematosusThyroid disorders

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