title: Lesson of the month (1). Myotonic dystrophy and out-of-hospital arrest.
abstract: Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is an autosomal dominant disorder which affects both smooth and skeletal muscles. The incidence is approximately 1 in 8,000 births. It is the most common muscular dystrophy to manifest in adulthood, and the second most common skeletal muscle disorder after Duchenne MD. Cardiac rhythm disturbances are a common cause of death in these patients. This lesson describes a case in which a previously undiagnosed case of MD presented with an episode of ventricular fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, Middlesex.
authors.forename: Achmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamara
authors.forename: Sukhjinder S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nijjer
authors.forename: Arjun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grocott-Mason
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dubrey
mesh_terms: D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications*; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy