Familial Ventricular Tachycardia

[Marcia K.]

I am having a problem & I am looking anywhere I can to find advice & direction.  As you will see from my letter I am looking primarily for two things.  One, the leading Doctor in one of the 2 fields related to my condition.  And second, advice from someone as to how I can do intensive research on the Internet in fields which seem unclear & still in it

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas has a very strong genetic cardiology program and you may look into them concerning this condition.  Here is some info on peripartium cardiomyopathy and some other resources your library can help you obtain.

Post-Partum (or peripartum) cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare form of heart failure that affects women during or following pregnancy.  Establishing a diagnosis requires 1. The absence of a determinable cause for cardiac failure, 2. Absence of preexisting heart muscle disease, and 3. Time limitations of onset of illness from the last month of pregnancy to the first 5 post-partum months.  Peripartum cardiomyopathy complicates 1 of 1300 to 4000 deliveries in the United States.  This condition may affect women of any race, age, or number of prior deliveries; however, older, multigravida, African American and twin pregnancies are thought to represent predisposing features.  The cause is unknown.  

The treatment is standard heart failure medication (diuretics, digoxin, ACE inhibitors) and in severe cases heart transplant.  Approximately half of patients with this diagnosis will return to normal within 6 months.  Of those who do not return to normal the prognosis is poor with an average survival of 4.7 years after diagnosis (without transplant).  Repeat pregnancies are not recommended for women who have had peripartum cardiomyopathy.  You can find additional information in the following articles.  (your local medical library should be able to help you find these).

Lampert, MB Lang RM. Peripartum cardiomyopathy. Am Heart J 1995; 130:860-870.

Huerta EM, Erice A, Espino RF, et al. Postpartum cardiomyopathy and acute myocarditis. Am Heart J 1985; 110:1079-1081.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Please see under your original posting.

[ginny]

Dear Marcia,
A good first step is a new WEB site funded by the National Institute of Health(NIH) which grew out of the Human Genome project(i.e. Mapping the entire Human Genetic Blueprint or Genome.)  The URL is as follows: http://www.geneclinics.org
Some other pointers are: Ask your doctors what type of genetic disease they suspect(i.e. Autoimmune, Muscular, Connective Tissue, Organ/Gland/Nerve); Are other body systems affected besides the heart; Are there any studies going on that are looking for families to participate because they suspect a genetic component to the disease; Are any genetic tests such as PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction) or ELISA available; Do they suspect a simple(One or more gene defects/mutations and always resulting in expression when present.) or more complex(involving many Genes/Chromosones and impacted by other diseases, exposure to toxins/radiation, etc.for expression.)genetic disease; Do they think it is Cardiomyopathy(If they do this URL has some info-http://www.aarda.org/).  I hope this is helpful.
Sincerely,
Ginny

[Jaden P]

Dear Doctor,
Please forgive me for posting so many times.  I am really concerned and wonder if I will be ok.  I posted a question on the 9th of November (however its under the 8th).  I am really nervous and worrying myself sick.  My name is Jaden Pace.  Thank you so much for your time