Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Diagnosed during Hospitalization for Cardiac Arrest

Acta Med Okayama. 2021 Aug;75(4):517-521. doi: 10.18926/AMO/62405.

Abstract

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetically mediated cardiomyopathy charac-terized by progressive myocardial loss of the right ventricle and its replacement by fibrofatty tissue, causing dyskinesia, aneurysm, and/or arrhythmia. The prevalence of ARVC is estimated to be 1 in 2,000-5,000, with the condition accounting for up to 20% of sudden cardiac deaths in individuals < 35 years old. This report describes the case of 61-year-old Japanese who was diagnosed with ARVC after cardiac arrest (CA) and successful resusci-tation. After the sudden CA, the restoration of spontaneous circulation was achieved with appropriate resusci-tation, followed by the introduction of target temperature management in the intensive care unit. He was diag-nosed with ARVC based on angiography and histology results. An ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) was implanted, and he was discharged without neurological sequelae 1 month post-CA. ARVC is an important cause of sudden CA, and successfully resuscitated patients with right ventricular dilation should undergo testing to rule out ARVC.

Keywords: inverted T-wave; right ventricular dilatation; sudden cardiac arrest; sudden cardiac death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / complications
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / diagnosis*
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / surgery
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Echocardiography, Doppler
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / etiology*
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy