Cardiac conduction defect- familial
Overview
Familial cardiac conduction defects belong to the group of inherited arrhythmias and can be classified under the broad heading of ``familial disorders affecting impulse propagation and cardiac conduction''. Patients can be asymptomatic or present with palpitations or occasionally symptoms of hemodynamic disorder, i.e. dizziness, syncope, heart failure, sudden cardiac death. Patients are often well aware of the onset and offset of intermittent tachyarrhythmias
Symptoms
patients with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDC) show enlargement of all four chambers of the heart and develop symptoms of congestive heart failure. Inherited cardiomyopathies may also be accompanied by cardiac conduction-system defects that affect the atrioventricular node, resulting in bradycardia.
Causes
Inherited cardiomyopathies may arise from mutations in genes that are normally expressed in both heart and skeletal muscle and therefore may be accompanied by skeletal muscle weakness.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is suggested by characteristic symptoms. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment is based on antiarrhythmic drugs, pharmacological and/or electrical cardioversion in case of tachyarrhythmic episodes and on pacemaker implantation in the case of bradiarrhythmic episodes.