Magnetocardiography — A New Approach for Early Detection of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Abstract

The arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia or cardiomyopathy (ARVD) is one of the major causes of juvenile sudden cardiac death and severe ventricular arrhythmias. ARVD is a primary myocardial disease, pathologically characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium, occurs in families, and it is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The phenotypical expression in any particular families can be very variable. The conventional diagnosis of ARVD based on the presence of major and minor criteria encompassing structural, histological, electrocardiographic and genetic factors, detected by echocardiography, right ventricular angiography, right ventricular myocardial biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ECG. According to the clinical, angiographic and electrophysiological characteristics a severe form of ARVD with füll manifestation of the disease and a “concealed” form with only mild morphological and ECG abnormalities can be distinguished.