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Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Risk Stratification and Indications for Defibrillator Therapy

  • Myocardial Disease (M Patel, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetically determined disease which predisposes to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The main goal of ARVC therapy is prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the most effective therapy for interruption of potentially lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Despite its life-saving potential, ICD implantation is associated with a high rate of complications and significant impact on quality of life. Accurate risk stratification is needed to identify individuals who most benefit from the therapy. While there is general agreement that patients with a history of cardiac arrest or hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia are at high risk of SCD and needs an ICD, indications for primary prevention remain a matter of debate. The article reviews the available scientific evidence and guidelines that may help to stratify the arrhythmic risk of ARVC patients and guide ICD implantation. Other therapeutic strategies, either alternative or additional to ICD, will be also addressed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Alessandro Zorzi, Ilaria Rigato, Barbara Bauce, Kalliopi Pilichou, Cristina Basso, Gaetano Thiene, Sabino Iliceto & Domenico Corrado

  2. Inherited Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35121, Padova, Italy

    Domenico Corrado

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  1. Alessandro Zorzi
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  2. Ilaria Rigato
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  3. Barbara Bauce
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  4. Kalliopi Pilichou
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  5. Cristina Basso
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  6. Gaetano Thiene
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Correspondence to Domenico Corrado.

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Alessandro Zorzi, Ilaria Rigato, Barbara Bauce, Cristina Basso, Gaetano Thiene, Sabino Iliceto, and Domenico Corrado declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article was funded by University of Padua Research Grant TRANSAC, Padova.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Myocardial Disease

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Zorzi, A., Rigato, I., Bauce, B. et al. Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Risk Stratification and Indications for Defibrillator Therapy. Curr Cardiol Rep 18, 57 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-016-0734-9

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