Advances in the diagnostic management of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy

Latest advances in the diagnostic management of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) confirm that ARVD/C is not a rare disease (one affected in 1000-1250 inhabitants) and is of familial origin in 50-80% of cases. Diagnostic criteria defined in 1994 lead to low rates in the diagnosis of ARVD/C. Progress was made in the definition of diagnostic markers. New criteria of localised right precordial QRS prolongation could be identified. The detection of epsilon potentials could be enhanced by highly amplified and modified recording techniques. Vectorcardiography, signal averaging per lead and electroanatomic voltage mapping might become more important in the future. Cardiac MRI does not represent the single diagnostic test to make the diagnosis of ARVD/C. It remains a promising noninvasive imaging technique with advantages in the evaluation of the right ventricle. After the characterisation of mutations in the plakophilin-2 gene, molecular genetics is going to become an important diagnostic tool. Up to now, unsolved problems exist in the differentiation of ARVD/C and other conditions with ventricular arrhythmias evolving from the right ventricle such as Brugada syndrome and right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia. These problems can be overcome by distinct ECG analysis and the use of imaging techniques. With the help of corrected and modified diagnostic criteria it seems to be possible to identify symptomatic and asymptomatic affected by ARVD/C with predominantly major criteria and only in a minority of cases minor criteria. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.