Biventricular Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Associated with a Novel Heterozygous Plakophilin-2 Early Truncating Variant

J Clin Med. 2022 Dec 19;11(24):7513. doi: 10.3390/jcm11247513.

Abstract

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a hereditary condition that can cause sudden cardiac death in young, frequently athletic individuals under the age of 35 due to malignant arrhythmias. Competitive and endurance exercise may hasten the onset and progression of ARVC, leading to right ventricular dysfunction and potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias earlier in life. In this article, we present a novel, pathogenic, early truncating heterozygous variant in the PKP2 gene that causes biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and affects a family, of which the only member with the positive phenotype is a competitive endurance athlete.

Keywords: arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; exercise; plakophilin-2.

Grants and funding

The Zurich ARVC Program is supported by the Georg und Bertha Schwyzer-Winiker Foundation, Baugarten Foundation, Wild Foundation, Swiss Heart Foundation (Grant Number: FF17019) and Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF Grant Nr. 320030–160327).