title: Life threatening causes of syncope: channelopathies and cardiomyopathies.
abstract: Syncope is common, has a high recurrence rate and carries a risk of morbidity and, dependent on the cause, mortality. Although the majority of patients with syncope have a benign prognosis, syncope as a result of cardiomyopathy or channelopathy carries a poor prognosis. In addition, the identification of these disorders allows for the institution of treatments, which are effective at reducing the risk of both syncope and mortality. It is for these reasons that the identification of a cardiomyopathy or channelopathy in patients with syncope is crucial. This review article will describe the characteristics of common cardiomyopathies and channelopathies and their investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Santabhanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Santabahnu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: akrahn@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Krahn
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D053447:Channelopathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Cardiomyopathy; Channelopathy; Syncope