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Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Management of Channelopathies and Cardiomyopathies, Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

  • Women and Heart Disease (C. Linde, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

With this paper, we aim to summarize the knowledge on gender differences in the most common inheritable channelopathies and cardiomyopathies, focusing on aspects that are of clinical importance for patient management and follow-up.

Recent Findings

Despite autosomal dominant inheritance patterns in most of the inheritable cardiac channelopathies and cardiomyopathies, there is increasing awareness that there are important gender differences in disease penetrance and severity, affecting prevalence, clinical presentation, and patient management.

Summary

Important gender differences are present in Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In LQTS, genotype-specific differences are important, and female LQT2 patients have higher arrhythmic risk compared with male. In the remaining inheritable channelopathies and cardiomyopathies discussed in this review, male patients are more likely to have penetrant disease and experience arrhythmic events. Mechanistic explanations for the observed gender differences are sparse, but in channelopathies, hormonal effects are thought to be important. Although treatment strategies in inheritable channelopathies and cardiomyopathies are similar in men and women with the notable exception of women with LQT2, the differences between the sexes are important to be aware of in patient management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Sognsvannsveien 20, Nydalen, NO-0424, PO Box 4950, 0372, Oslo, Norway

    Kristina H. Haugaa & Ida S. Leren

  2. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Kristina H. Haugaa

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Correspondence to Kristina H. Haugaa.

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Ida S. Leren and Kristina H. Haugaa declare no conflicts of interest.

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Haugaa, K.H., Leren, I.S. Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Management of Channelopathies and Cardiomyopathies, Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 13, 16 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-019-0612-2

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