title: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Risk Stratification and Indications for Defibrillator Therapy.
abstract: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetically determined disease which predisposes to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The main goal of ARVC therapy is prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the most effective therapy for interruption of potentially lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Despite its life-saving potential, ICD implantation is associated with a high rate of complications and significant impact on quality of life. Accurate risk stratification is needed to identify individuals who most benefit from the therapy. While there is general agreement that patients with a history of cardiac arrest or hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia are at high risk of SCD and needs an ICD, indications for primary prevention remain a matter of debate. The article reviews the available scientific evidence and guidelines that may help to stratify the arrhythmic risk of ARVC patients and guide ICD implantation. Other therapeutic strategies, either alternative or additional to ICD, will be also addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zorzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rigato
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bauce
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pilichou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiene
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliceto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. domenico.corrado@unipd.it.|Inherited Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35121, Padova, Italy. domenico.corrado@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corrado
mesh_terms: D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: Guidelines; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Sudden cardiac death; Ventricular arrhythmias; Ventricular fibrillation; Ventricular tachycardia