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Allwood RP. Apicolateral bulge: A potential mimic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in a professional athlete-A case report and literature review. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2024. [PMID: 39021260 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with over 265 million active players and approximately 0.05% professional players worldwide. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has made preparticipation screening recommendations which involve electrocardiography and echocardiography being performed prior to international competition. The aim of preparticipation cardiovascular screening in young athletes is to detect asymptomatic individuals with cardiovascular disease at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The incidence of SCD in young athletes (age≤ 35 years) is 0.6-3.6 in 100,000 persons/year, with most deaths due to cardiovascular causes. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is one of the leading causes of SCD in young athletes. It is a genetic disease characterized by progressive fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium with variable phenotypic expression. Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in conjunction with extensive T-wave inversion raises concern for ARVC. This case report and literature review explores a potential mimic for ARVC, the role of cardiovascular screening in sport, and the use of a multimodality approach for risk stratification and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard P Allwood
- Cardiology Department, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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2
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De Bosscher R, Dausin C, Janssens K, Bogaert J, Elliott A, Ghekiere O, Van De Heyning CM, Sanders P, Kalman J, Fatkin D, Herbots L, Willems R, Heidbuchel H, La Gerche A, Claessen G. Rationale and design of the PROspective ATHletic Heart (Pro@Heart) study: long-term assessment of the determinants of cardiac remodelling and its clinical consequences in endurance athletes. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2022; 8:e001309. [PMID: 35368514 PMCID: PMC8935177 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exercise-induced cardiac remodelling (EICR) results from the structural, functional and electrical adaptations to exercise. Despite similar sports participation, EICR varies and some athletes develop phenotypic features that overlap with cardiomyopathies. Training load and genotype may explain some of the variation; however, exercise ‘dose’ has lacked rigorous quantification. Few have investigated the association between EICR and genotype. Objectives (1) To identify the impact of training load and genotype on the variance of EICR in elite endurance athletes and (2) determine how EICR and its determinants are associated with physical performance, health benefits and cardiac pathology. Methods The Pro@Heart study is a multicentre prospective cohort trial. Three hundred elite endurance athletes aged 14–23 years will have comprehensive cardiovascular phenotyping using echocardiography, cardiac MRI, 12-lead ECG, exercise-ECG and 24-hour-Holter monitoring. Genotype will be determined using a custom cardiomyopathy gene panel and high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays. Follow-up will include online tracking of training load. Cardiac phenotyping will be repeated at 2, 5, 10 and 20 years. Results The primary endpoint of the Pro@Heart study is the association of EICR with both training load and genotype. The latter will include rare variants in cardiomyopathy-associated genes and polygenic risk scores for cardiovascular traits. Secondary endpoints are the incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, physical performance and health benefits and their association with training load and genotype. Conclusion The Pro@Heart study is the first long-term cohort study to assess the impact of training load and genotype on EICR. Trial registration number NCT05164328; ACTRN12618000716268.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben De Bosscher
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Kristel Janssens
- Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jan Bogaert
- Radiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Elliott
- Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Olivier Ghekiere
- Cardiology, Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium.,Cardivacsular Sciences, University Hasselt Biomedical Research Institute Rehabilitation Research Center, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Caroline M Van De Heyning
- Cardiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium.,Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan Kalman
- Cardiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Diane Fatkin
- Inherited Heart Diseases, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Cardiology, Jessa Hospital Campus Virga Jesse, Hasselt, Belgium.,Cardivacsular Sciences, University Hasselt Biomedical Research Institute Rehabilitation Research Center, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Rik Willems
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.,Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - André La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guido Claessen
- Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Cardiology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2022; 8:533-553. [PMID: 35450611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) encompasses a group of conditions characterized by right ventricular fibrofatty infiltration, with a predominant arrhythmic presentation. First described in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it is now frequently recognized to have biventricular involvement. The prevalence is ∼1:2,000 to 1:5,000, depending on geographic location, and it has a slight male predominance. The diagnosis of ARVC is determined on the basis of fulfillment of task force criteria incorporating electrophysiological parameters, cardiac imaging findings, genetic factors, and histopathologic features. Risk stratification of patients with ARVC aims to identify those who are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Factors including age, sex, electrophysiological features, and cardiac imaging investigations all contribute to risk stratification. The current management of ARVC includes exercise restriction, β-blocker therapy, consideration for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion, and catheter ablation. This review summarizes our current understanding of ARVC and provides clinicians with a practical approach to diagnosis and management.
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Allwood RP. Differentiating right ventricular remodelling from cardiac pathology in athletes. SONOGRAPHY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/sono.12299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard P. Allwood
- Cardiology Department St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
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Mascia G, Olivotto I, Brugada J, Arbelo E, Di Donna P, Della Bona R, Canepa M, Porto I. Sport practice in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: running to stand still? Int J Cardiol 2021; 345:77-82. [PMID: 34662670 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
During the last decades, the practice of sport and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were considered as incompatible, since evidence was not sufficient to gauge the risk associated to repeat and/or vigorous exercise across the spectrum of HCM. Additionally, it was acknowledged thatrisk stratification tools developed for HCM were not derived from athlete cohorts. Recent epidemiological studies focused on HCM both in the general population and in athletes, however, have de-emphasized the contribution of this condition to the risk of sport-associated sudden death, supporting the possibility of allowing the practice of some sports, even at professional level, for certain low-risk HCM categories. We hereby analyze the complex interaction of vigorous and continuative exercise with HCM, revising the available evidence for sports eligibility in HCM, the challenges and limitations of shared decision-making, as well as the potential harms and benefits of a highly personalised exercise schedule in subjects diagnosed with this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Mascia
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Olivotto
- Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Josep Brugada
- Arrhythmia Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació August Pi iSunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid (Spain)
| | - Elena Arbelo
- Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació August Pi iSunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid (Spain)
| | - Paolo Di Donna
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Della Bona
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Canepa
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI), Chair of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Italo Porto
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI), Chair of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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6
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Cardiac Biomarkers and Autoantibodies in Endurance Athletes: Potential Similarities with Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Pathogenic Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126500. [PMID: 34204386 PMCID: PMC8235133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The “Extreme Exercise Hypothesis” states that when individuals perform training beyond the ideal exercise dose, a decline in the beneficial effects of physical activity occurs. This is due to significant changes in myocardial structure and function, such as hemodynamic alterations, cardiac chamber enlargement and hypertrophy, myocardial inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and conduction changes. In addition, an increased amount of circulating biomarkers of exercise-induced damage has been reported. Although these changes are often reversible, long-lasting cardiac damage may develop after years of intense physical exercise. Since several features of the athlete’s heart overlap with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), the syndrome of “exercise-induced ACM” has been postulated. Thus, the distinction between ACM and the athlete’s heart may be challenging. Recently, an autoimmune mechanism has been discovered in ACM patients linked to their characteristic junctional impairment. Since cardiac junctions are similarly impaired by intense physical activity due to the strong myocardial stretching, we propose in the present work the novel hypothesis of an autoimmune response in endurance athletes. This investigation may deepen the knowledge about the pathological remodeling and relative activated mechanisms induced by intense endurance exercise, potentially improving the early recognition of whom is actually at risk.
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Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Wright SP, Meah VL, Yousef Z, Eves ND, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Right Ventricular Function and Region-Specific Adaptation in Athletes Engaged in High-Dynamic Sports: A Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 14:e012315. [PMID: 33993732 DOI: 10.1161/circimaging.120.012315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural remodeling of the right ventricle (RV) is widely documented in athletes. However, functional adaptation, including RV pressure generation and systolic free-wall longitudinal mechanics, remains equivocal. This meta-analysis compared RV pressure and function in athletes and controls. METHODS A systematic review of online databases was conducted up to June 4, 2020. Meta-analyses were performed on RV systolic pressures, at rest and during exercise, tricuspid annular plane systolic displacement, myocardial velocity (S'), and global and regional longitudinal strain. Bias was assessed using Egger regression for asymmetry. Data were analyzed using random-effects models with weighted mean difference and 95% CI. RESULTS Fifty-three studies were eligible for inclusion. RV systolic pressure was obtained from 21 studies at rest (n=1043:1651; controls:athletes) and 8 studies during exercise (n=240:495) and was significantly greater in athletes at rest (weighted mean difference, 2.9 mmHg [CI, 1.3-4.5 mmHg]; P=0.0005) and during exercise (11.0 [6.5-15.6 mm Hg]; P<0.0001) versus controls. Resting tricuspid annular plane systolic displacement (P<0.0001) and S' (P=0.001) were greater in athletes. In contrast, athletes had similar RV free-wall longitudinal strain (17 studies; n=450:605), compared with controls but showed greater longitudinal apical strain (16 studies; n=455:669; 0.9%, 0.1%-1.8%; P=0.03) and lower basal strain (-2.5% [-1.4 to -3.5%]; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Functional RV adaptation, characterized by increased tricuspid annular displacement and velocity and a greater base-to-apex strain gradient, is a normal feature of the athlete's heart, together with a slightly elevated RV systolic pressure. These findings contribute to our understanding of RV in athletes and highlight the importance of considering RV function in combination with structure in the clinical interpretation of the athlete's heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony G Dawkins
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.)
| | - Bryony A Curry
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.).,Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Stephen P Wright
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Victoria L Meah
- Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.).,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.).,Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Canada (V.L.M.)
| | - Zaheer Yousef
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom (Z.Y.)
| | - Neil D Eves
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Rob E Shave
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (B.A.C., S.P.W., N.D.E., R.E.S.)
| | - Michael Stembridge
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom (T.G.D., B.A.C., M.S.)
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Cardiac Imaging in Athlete's Heart: The Role of the Radiologist. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57050455. [PMID: 34066957 PMCID: PMC8148528 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57050455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Athlete’s heart (AH) is the result of morphological and functional cardiac modifications due to long-lasting athletic training. Athletes can develop very marked structural myocardial changes, which may simulate or cover unknown cardiomyopathies. The differential diagnosis between AH and cardiomyopathy is necessary to prevent the risk of catastrophic events, such as sudden cardiac death, but it can be a challenging task. The improvement of the imaging modalities and the introduction of the new technologies in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) can allow overcoming this challenge. Therefore, the radiologist, specialized in cardiac imaging, could have a pivotal role in the differential diagnosis between structural adaptative changes observed in the AH and pathological anomalies of cardiomyopathies. In this review, we summarize the main CMR and CCT techniques to evaluate the cardiac morphology, function, and tissue characterization, and we analyze the imaging features of the AH and the key differences with the main cardiomyopathies.
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9
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Mascia G, Arbelo E, Porto I, Brugada R, Brugada J. The arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in comparison to the athletic heart. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2020; 31:1836-1843. [PMID: 32367567 DOI: 10.1111/jce.14526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Intense exercise-induced right ventricular remodeling is a potential adaptation of cardiac function and structure. The features of the remodeling may overlap with those of a very early form of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC): at this early stage, it could be difficult to discriminate ARVC, from exercise-induced cardiac adaptation that may develop in normal individuals. The purpose of this paper is to discuss which exercise-induced remodeling may be a pathological or a physiological finding. A complete evaluation may be required to identify the pathological features of ARVC that would include potential risk of sudden cardiac death during sport or, to avoid the false diagnosis of ARVC. The most recent expert assessment of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy focuses on endurance athletes presenting with clinical features indistinguishable from ARVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Mascia
- Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI) Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy.,Cardiology and Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Arbelo
- Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigaciò August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Italo Porto
- Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI) Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italian IRCCS Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ramon Brugada
- Cardiovascular Genetics Center, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Girona (IDIBGI), University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Josep Brugada
- Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigaciò August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Prior D, La Gerche A. Exercise and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. Heart Lung Circ 2019; 29:547-555. [PMID: 31964580 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a group of cardiomyopathies associated with ventricular arrhythmias predominantly arising from the right ventricle, sudden cardiac death and right ventricular failure, caused largely due to inherited mutations in proteins of the desmosomal complex. Whilst long recognised as a cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) during exercise, it has recently been recognised that intense and prolonged exercise can worsen the disease resulting in earlier and more severe phenotypic expression. Changes in cardiac structure and function as a result of exercise training also pose challenges with diagnosis as enlargement of the right ventricle is commonly seen in endurance athletes. Advice regarding restriction of exercise is an important part of patient management, not only of those with established disease, but also in individuals known to carry gene mutations associated with development of ARVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Prior
- National Centre for Sports Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne at St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
| | - Andre La Gerche
- National Centre for Sports Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
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11
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Introducing Sports Cardiology-Contemporary Conundrums and Future Research Objectives. Heart Lung Circ 2018; 27:1031-1033. [PMID: 30029871 DOI: 10.1016/s1443-9506(18)31781-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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