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Oliveira C, Pinho A, Santos L, Pinto RA, Oliveira S, Moreira H, Rocha M, Palma P, Pestana G, Madeira M, Lebreiro A, Adão L. Long-term prognosis of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation: An eighteen-year experience from a tertiary center. Rev Port Cardiol 2024; 43:331-336. [PMID: 38615880 DOI: 10.1016/j.repc.2024.04.001] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is diagnosed in patients who survive sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), preferably with documented ventricular fibrillation (VF), without any identifiable structural or electrical abnormality. Current evidence provides limited guidance on the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients. Our aim was to assess the clinical outcomes of survivors of an aborted SCA attributed to IVF. METHODS We retrospectively collected clinical data from all patients who survived SCA and implanted a cardiac defibrillator (ICD) between 2005 and 2023. RESULTS A total of 38 patients, 36.8% female, with a mean age of 44±14 years old were included. Median follow-up time was 8.7 years (interquartile range (IQR) 4.7-14.7 years). All patients underwent a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that excluded structural and coronary disease. During follow-up, underlying diagnoses were established in 34.2% of the whole cohort. Genetic testing, performed in 37.2%, revealed underlying diagnoses in 57.1% of those tested, compared to only 26.3% of patients who did not undergo genetic testing [p=0.035, OR=5.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-21.5)]. Mortality was 10.5% (due to non-arrhythmic causes) and 36.8% patients received appropriate therapies with a median time to first ICD therapy of 39 [5.4-47.3] months. CONCLUSION(S) Etiological diagnosis and recurrence prediction in patients with IVF remains challenging, even with extensive diagnostic evaluation and long-term follow-up. In our study, genetic testing enhanced diagnostic yield. Consistent with previous findings, our cohort experienced a notable arrhythmic recurrence, with no cardiac deaths, underlining the pivotal role of ICD implantation in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Oliveira
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal.
| | - Ana Pinho
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Santos
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Alves Pinto
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Oliveira
- Faculty of Medicine of University of Oporto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Moreira
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Rocha
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Palma
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Pestana
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Madeira
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lebreiro
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Adão
- Department of Cardiology, Local Health Unit of São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal
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van der Crabben SN, Wilde AAM. Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation: is it a case for genetic testing? Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2024; 35:19-24. [PMID: 38334831 PMCID: PMC10879354 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-024-00994-3] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a diagnosis of exclusion in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors. Although there are clear guidelines on the clinical work-up of SCA survivors, less than one in five patients receives a complete work-up. This increases the chances of erroneously labelling these patients as having IVF, while 10-20% of them have an inherited cardiac condition (ICC). Diagnoses of ICC increase over time due to (additional) deep phenotyping or as a result of spontaneous expression of ICC over time. As SCA survivors can also harbor (likely) pathogenic variants in cardiomyopathy-associated genes in the absence of a phenotype, or can have another ICC without a clear cardiac phenotype, the question arises as to whether genetic testing in this group should be routinely performed. Family history (mainly in the case of sudden death) can increase suspicion of an ICC in an SCA victim, but does not add great value when adults underwent a complete cardiological work-up. The diagnosis of ICC has treatment consequences not only for the patient but also for their family. Genetic diagnostic yield does not appear to increase with larger gene panels, but variants of unknown significance (VUS) do. Although VUS can be confusing, careful and critical segregation analysis in the family can be performed when discussed in a multidisciplinary team at a center of expertise with at least a cardiologist as well as a clinical and laboratory geneticist, thereby degrading or promoting VUS. When to introduce genetic testing in SCA survivors remains a matter of debate, but the combination of quick, deep phenotyping with additional genetic testing for the unidentifiable phenotypes, especially in the young, seems preferable.
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Affiliation(s)
- S N van der Crabben
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- European Reference Network for rare, low prevalence, and/or complex diseases of the heart: ERN GUARD-Heart, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - A A M Wilde
- European Reference Network for rare, low prevalence, and/or complex diseases of the heart: ERN GUARD-Heart, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of Cardiology, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Heart Failure and arrhythmias, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Verpoest W, Okutman Ö, Van Der Kelen A, Sermon K, Viville S. Genetics of infertility: a paradigm shift for medically assisted reproduction. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2289-2295. [PMID: 37801292 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead199] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of reproductive genetics has undergone significant advancements with the completion of the Human Genome Project and the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques. This has led to the identification of numerous genes involved in both male and female infertility, revolutionizing the diagnosis and management of infertility patients. Genetic investigations, including karyotyping, specific genetic tests, and high-throughput sequencing, have become essential in determining the genetic causes of infertility. Moreover, the integration of genetics into reproductive medicine has expanded the scope of care to include not only affected individuals or couples but also their family members. Genetic consultations and counselling play a crucial role in identifying potentially affected relatives and offering tailored therapy and the possibility of fertility preservation. Despite the current limited therapeutic options, an increasing understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in infertility genes holds promise for improved treatment outcomes. The availability of genetic diagnostic tools has reduced the number of idiopathic infertility cases by providing accurate aetiological diagnoses. The transition from research to clinical practice in reproductive genetics requires the establishment of genetic consultations and data warehousing systems to provide up-to-date information on gene-disease relationships. Overall, the integration of genetics into reproductive medicine has brought about a paradigm shift, emphasizing the familial dimension of infertility and offering new possibilities for personalized care and family planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Verpoest
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Brussels IVF Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Özlem Okutman
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Hôpital Erasme, Service de Gynécologie-Obstetrique, Clinique de Fertilité, Route de Lennik, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Annelore Van Der Kelen
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Centre for Medical Genetics, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karen Sermon
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stéphane Viville
- Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale LGM, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace IGMA, INSERM UMR 1112, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Unité de Génétique de l'infertilité (UF3472), Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Zeman J, Pettinato AM, Ladha FA, Lico I, Crespo EM, Givertz MM. Recurrent premature ventricular complex-triggered idiopathic polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias in a patient with a structurally normal heart. HeartRhythm Case Rep 2023; 9:888-892. [PMID: 38204821 PMCID: PMC10774531 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrcr.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Zeman
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Anthony M. Pettinato
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Feria A. Ladha
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ina Lico
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Eric M. Crespo
- Department of Electrophysiology, Heart and Vascular Institute, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut
| | - Michael M. Givertz
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Verheul LM, van der Ree MH, Groeneveld SA, Mulder BA, Christiaans I, Kapel GFL, Alings M, Bootsma M, Barge-Schaapveld DQCM, Balt JC, Yap SC, Krapels IPC, Ter Bekke RMA, Volders PGA, van der Crabben SN, Postema PG, Wilde AAM, Dooijes D, Baas AF, Hassink RJ. The genetic basis of apparently idiopathic ventricular fibrillation: a retrospective overview. Europace 2023; 25:euad336. [PMID: 37967257 PMCID: PMC10665040 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euad336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS During the diagnostic work-up of patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF), next-generation sequencing panels can be considered to identify genotypes associated with arrhythmias. However, consensus for gene panel testing is still lacking, and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) are often identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic testing and its results in idiopathic VF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS We investigated 419 patients with available medical records from the Dutch Idiopathic VF Registry. Genetic testing was performed in 379 (91%) patients [median age at event 39 years (27-51), 60% male]. Single-gene testing was performed in 87 patients (23%) and was initiated more often in patients with idiopathic VF before 2010. Panel testing was performed in 292 patients (77%). The majority of causal (likely) pathogenic variants (LP/P, n = 56, 15%) entailed the DPP6 risk haplotype (n = 39, 70%). Moreover, 10 LP/P variants were found in cardiomyopathy genes (FLNC, MYL2, MYH7, PLN (two), TTN (four), RBM20), and 7 LP/P variants were identified in genes associated with cardiac arrhythmias (KCNQ1, SCN5A (2), RYR2 (four)). For eight patients (2%), identification of an LP/P variant resulted in a change of diagnosis. In 113 patients (30%), a VUS was identified. Broad panel testing resulted in a higher incidence of VUS in comparison to single-gene testing (38% vs. 3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Almost all patients from the registry underwent, albeit not broad, genetic testing. The genetic yield of causal LP/P variants in idiopathic VF patients is 5%, increasing to 15% when including DPP6. In specific cases, the LP/P variant is the underlying diagnosis. A gene panel specifically for idiopathic VF patients is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Verheul
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn H van der Ree
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Amsterdam, Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne A Groeneveld
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Bart A Mulder
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Imke Christiaans
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs F L Kapel
- Department of Cardiology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Alings
- Department of Cardiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne Bootsma
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jippe C Balt
- Department of Cardiology, St.Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Sing-Chien Yap
- Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid P C Krapels
- Department of Human Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel M A Ter Bekke
- Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul G A Volders
- Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia N van der Crabben
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter G Postema
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Amsterdam, Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arthur A M Wilde
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Amsterdam, Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Dooijes
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annette F Baas
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger J Hassink
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
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