CLINICAL PROFILE OF ARRHYTHMOGENIC RIGHT VENTRICULAR CARDIOMYOPATHY (ARVC)

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical profile of patients with ARVC in the province ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out at thedepartment of Cardiology in Hayatabad Medical Complex, PGMI, Peshawar fromApril, 2008 to March, 2011. The Task Force Criteria 2004 was employed todiagnose the patients. Clinical data of the patients including age, gender, familyhistory, presenting symptoms, twelve lead resting ECG, 24-hours ECG Holtermonitoring, signal-average ECG, 2-dimensional transthoracic echo and rightventriculograms were analyzed.

Result: Twenty-eight patients, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria, were included.The mean age at clinical presentation was 30.22±11.88 (range 18 to 42 years),with a male: female ratio of 3.66:1. Twenty-six (92%) presented with VT of LBBBmorphology, all patients (100%) had history of palpitations, and 7 patients (25%)had positive family members as well. Various ECG findings were found in 42 to96% of the patients, SAECG showed late potentials in 12% of the patients, andHolter monitoring yielded various findings in 67 to 92% of the patients. Amongimaging modalities, 2-D echo picked up positive findings in 3.5 to 85% of thepatients, while RV-gram was helpful in 25 to 46% of the patients.

Conclusion: ARVC mostly presents either with palpitations or VT of LBBBmorphology. 12 lead resting ECG and 2-D transthoracic echo are mostly helpful inthe diagnosis.

Key Words: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), SuddenCardiac Death (SCD), Ventricular Tachycardia (VT), Left Bundle Branch Block(LBBB)