ARRHYTHMOGENIC
RIGHT VENTRICULAR DYSPLASIA (ARVD)
Also known as arrhythmogenic
right ventricular cardiomyopathy
ARVD
stands for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia. Arrhythmogenic
means causing an arrhythmia. The right ventricle is the chamber of the
heart that is affected and dysplasia means there is an abnormality of
the structure. The right ventricle is dilated and contracts poorly.
As a
result, the ability of the heart to pump blood is usually weakened.
Patients with ARVD often have arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms),
which can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest or death.
ARVD is a
specific type of cardiomyopathy (a disorder of the cardiac muscle).
Simply
put, ARVD is a genetic, progressive heart condition in which the muscle
of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, which causes
abnormal heart rhythms. ARVD is estimated to affect one in 5,000 people.
The disease can affect both men and women. Although it is a relatively
uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it accounts for up to one fifth
of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age.
The cause
of ARVD is unknown. ARVD can occur with no family history, although
often it runs in families. A family history of ARVD is present in at
least 30 to 50 percent of cases. Therefore, it is recommended that
family members of an ARVD patient should be tested. First- and
second-degree family members (parents, siblings, children,
grandchildren, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece) should be evaluated carefully
for this form of cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of symptoms.
Symptoms:
Sudden
Cardiac Death - can be the first sign of ARVD
Ventricular arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms originating in the
ventricles or lower chambers of the heart - The most common is
ventricular tachycardia.
Palpitations: Fluttering in the chest due to abnormal heart rhythms
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting caused by irregular heart
rhythms
Heart
failure- shortness of breath with activity, inability to carry out
normal activities without fatigue, swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
(edema)
The
symptoms of ARVD are usually a result of an arrhythmia. Many people do
not know they have an arrhythmia. There are many different symptoms of
an arrhythmia and healthy people without ARVD can have these symptoms. When you feel your heart speed up or slow down or feel it pounding, it
is called palpitation. Palpitations are a normal response to fright or
exertion but can, in other circumstances, be abnormal. If the change in
rhythm makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood, other symptoms
can occur such as lightheadedness and fainting (also called syncope). Arrhythmias can also impair the flow of blood to the heart muscle and
cause chest pain, which is also called angina. An arrhythmia can also
cause sudden death if the heart cannot pump enough blood to its own
muscle and to the lungs and body. Fortunately, sudden death is not a
common complication, but the risk must be considered when deciding on
the treatment.
Sometimes
people with ARVD develop symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure means
that the heart muscle is not pumping blood through the body effectively. Symptoms include swelling of the legs, feet, and abdomen; feelings of
shortness of breath while lying down and while exercising, and feelings
of extreme fatigue.
In
addition to these common symptoms of arrhythmias and heart failure other
symptoms individuals with ARVD have reported include nausea, dizziness,
heart fluttering, heart racing, etc.
Additional
Information
John
Hopkins Medicine
www.arvd.com
