title: Genetic testing in cardiomyopathies: an update on indications and benefits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As rapid genetic testing has become increasingly accessible in a timely fashion, more genetic mutations are identified in inherited conditions such as cardiomyopathies. Understanding when to consider genetic testing is an important part of the management of patients whose presentations vary from decompensated heart failure to sudden cardiac death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the benefits of genetic testing for risk stratification of family members, prognostication of probands, and identification of novel disease-causing mutations and examine the possible role of genetic predisposition in seemingly acquired cardiomyopathies such as peripartum and anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genetic screening for the recognition of family members who have inherited a cardiomyopathy is important, and testing may identify patients at higher risk of sudden death. However, genetic testing does have its limitations, such as the identification of variants of unknown significance that often complicate the clinical picture.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario bDepartment of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aleksova
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutberg
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Haissam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation