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Schulze-Bahr E. [Cardiogenetics in Germany- a view and review]. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2024; 35:127-137. [PMID: 38418599 PMCID: PMC10924006 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-024-01008-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The development of the cardiogenetics field in Germany has been increasing since the mid-1990s with many national contributions, some of them were really important and groundbreaking. The starting point was and still is the patient and his family, e.g. with a familial form of arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy, the clarification of the genetic cause and the personalized treatment of those being affected. The scientific, always translationally oriented interest in identifying a causative gene and uncovering the underlying pathomechanisms has led to notable contributions for Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome and cardiac conduction disorders or sinus node dysfunction, but also in DCM or ARVC. What is important, however, is always the way back (bench > bed side): implementation of national and international recommendations for cardiogenetic diagnostics in daily cardiological routine and the personalized care and therapy of those being affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Schulze-Bahr
- Institut für Genetik von Herzerkrankungen (IfGH), Spezialambulanz für Patienten mit genetischen Herzerkrankungen, Universitätsklinikum Münster (UKM), Domagkstr. 3, 48145, Münster, Deutschland.
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Kauferstein S, Beckmann BM. [Postmortem genetic analysis following sudden cardiac death : Background, approach, and future]. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2024; 35:31-38. [PMID: 38197940 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-023-00986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as an unexpected, nontraumatic death with a possible cardiac or unknown cause. The lowest incidence is observed in infancy and childhood (1 per 100,000), and the incidence is approximately 50 per 100,000 in the middle-aged population, reaching a plateau around the age of 80 (200 per 100,000). While most SCD cases occur in older people with coronary artery disease, there is a predominance of monogenetic and polygenetic diseases in the young. METHODS Postmortem genetic analysis (molecular autopsy) using next-generation sequencing reveals a definite pathogenic genetic alteration, which can explain SCD of young patients in near 20% of the cases. Hence, postmortem genetic analysis has become an important tool to unravel the inheritable cause of death. Furthermore, early identification of a pathogenic genetic sequence variant in the deceased is crucial to reduce risk in relatives due to preventive personalized measures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Postmortem genetic analysis forms together with the clinical assessment the basis for early identification of at-risk relatives. A new guideline for the management of ventricular arrhythmias and prevention of sudden death was recently published by the European Society of Cardiology. The new recommendations give genetic testing, also in deceased patients a much higher priority reflecting increasing relevance of genetic testing for diagnostic evaluation, risk stratification and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Kauferstein
- Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Zentrum für plötzlichen Herztod und familiäre Arrhythmiesyndrome, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60590, Frankfurt, Deutschland.
- Partner Site Rhein-Main, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Frankfurt, Deutschland.
| | - Britt-Maria Beckmann
- Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Zentrum für plötzlichen Herztod und familiäre Arrhythmiesyndrome, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60590, Frankfurt, Deutschland
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Wolpert C. [Genetic testing in daily clinical practice according to the guidelines : How do we proceed?]. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2024; 35:25-30. [PMID: 38180540 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-023-00988-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Genetic testing and counselling has become a fundamental part of the diagnostic work-up and risk stratification in ion channel diseases. The diagnostic yield varies among the different entities. For the most common diseases, there is a class I recommendation for the initiation of genetic testing and counseling. The German law for genetic diagnostics defines all steps of the pathway in detail. In clinical practice, coordination of the different levels of clinical guidance and genetic diagnostics and testing poses a logistic challenge. Involving human geneticists in the procedure is mandatory. For predictive genetic testing, human genetic counseling is mandatory before initiation of the testing and after obtaining the results. As far as causality of genetic variants for the arrhythmic phenotypes is concerned, repeated curations are undertaken to avoid misinterpretation and overdiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wolpert
- 2. Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie, Nephrologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Posilipostr. 4, 71640, Ludwigsburg, Deutschland.
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Duryagina R, Richter S, Ebert M. Legal aspects of genetic testing in the evaluation of ventricular tachycardias. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2023; 34:205-211. [PMID: 37524841 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-023-00948-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of distinct cardiac pathologies that are related to ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The identification of genes responsible for inherited cardiac diseases has led to the organization of cardiogenetic consultations in many countries worldwide. The 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of SCD and the international 2022 Expert Consensus Statement on the state of genetic testing for cardiac diseases emphasize the importance of genetic testing in cardiology practice along with appropriate information provision to affected individuals and their relatives. However, the context of genetic examination raises particular ethical, practical (including economic or financial), and legal challenges. This review aims to elucidate practical considerations related to legal aspects relevant for the evaluation of patients presenting with VT in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Duryagina
- Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden, University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 76, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sergio Richter
- Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden, University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 76, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Micaela Ebert
- Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Heart Center Dresden, University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 76, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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Neubauer J, Kissel CK, Bolliger SA, Barbon D, Thali MJ, Kloiber D, Bode PK, Kovacs B, Graf U, Maspoli A, Berger W, Saguner AM, Haas C. Benefits and outcomes of a new multidisciplinary approach for the management and financing of sudden unexplained death cases in a forensic setting in Switzerland. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 334:111240. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Tiesmeier J, Gaertner A, Homm S, Jakob T, Stanasiuk C, Bachmann-Mennenga B, Henzler D, Grautoff S, Veit G, Hori E, Kellner U, Gummert JF, Hitz MP, Kostareva A, Klingel K, Paluszkiewicz L, Laser KT, Pfeiffer H, Fox H, Milting H. The emergency medical service has a crucial role to unravel the genetics of sudden cardiac arrest in young, out of hospital resuscitated patients: Interim data from the MAP-IT study. Resuscitation 2021; 168:176-185. [PMID: 34389451 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetics of sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) remains frequently undetected. Genetic analysis is recommended in undefined selected cases in the 2021 ERC-guideline. The emergency medical service and physicians (EMS) may play a pivotal role for unraveling SCD by saving biomaterial for later molecular autopsy. Since for high-throughput DNA-sequencing (NGS) high quality genomic DNA is needed. We investigated in a prospective proof-of-concept study the role of the EMS for the identification of genetic forms of SCDs in the young. METHODS We included patients aged 1-50 years with need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts (CPR). Cases with non-natural deaths were excluded. In two German counties with 562,904 residents 39,506 services were analysed. Paired end panel-sequencing was performed, and variants were classified according to guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG). RESULTS 769 CPR-attempts were recorded (1.95% of all EMS-services; CPR-incidence 68/100,000). In 103 cases CPR were performed in patients < 50y. 58% died on scene, 26% were discharged from hospital. 24 subjects were included for genotyping. Of these 33% died on scene, 37.5% were discharged from hospital. 25% of the genotyped patients were carriers of (likely) pathogenic (ACMG-4/-5) variants. 67% carried variants with unknown significance (ACMG-3). 2 of them had familial history for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy or had to be re-classified as ACMG-4 carriers due to whole exome sequencing. CONCLUSION The EMS contributes especially in fatal OHCA-cases to increase the yield of identified genetic conditions by collecting a blood sample on scene. Thus, the EMS can contribute significantly to primary and secondary prophylaxis in affected families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Tiesmeier
- Institute for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care- and Emergency Medicine, MKK-Hospital Luebbecke, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany; Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna Gaertner
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Sören Homm
- Institute for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care- and Emergency Medicine, MKK-Johannes Wesling Hospital Minden, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Jakob
- Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Herford Hospital, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Caroline Stanasiuk
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Bernd Bachmann-Mennenga
- Institute for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care- and Emergency Medicine, MKK-Johannes Wesling Hospital Minden, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Dietrich Henzler
- Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Herford Hospital, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Steffen Grautoff
- Emergency Department, Herford Hospital, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Gunter Veit
- Institute for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care- and Emergency Medicine, MKK-Hospital Luebbecke, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Erika Hori
- Institute for Pathology, Johannes Wessling Hospital Minden, D-32429 Minden, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Udo Kellner
- Institute for Pathology, Johannes Wessling Hospital Minden, D-32429 Minden, Campus OWL, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Jan F Gummert
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Marc P Hitz
- Institute for Human Genetics, Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Kostareva
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Saint Petersburg 197341, Russia; Department of Women's and Children's Health & Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Klingel
- Institute for Pathology and Neuropathology, Dept. Molecular Pathology, University Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Lech Paluszkiewicz
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Kai Thorsten Laser
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Heart and Diabetescenter NRW, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Heidi Pfeiffer
- Institute for Forensic Medicine, University Hospital, Wilhelms-University Muenster, Germany
| | - Henrik Fox
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Hendrik Milting
- Erich and Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development & Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetescenter NRW, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
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