Genomics in Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies

Guest: Naveen L. Pereira, M.D.
Host: Kyle W. Klarich, M.D
Patients with heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias can have inflammatory heart disease such as myocarditis or sarcoidosis. The diagnosis is typically made by imaging studies including cardiac MRI and PET scans. However, it is critical to performed genetic testing in such patients given that genetic cardiomyopathy can often present as an inflammatory heart disease phenotype which may have important prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Topics Discussed:
How do inflammatory cardiomyopathies typically present? When do you suspect inflammation as a cause of cardiomyopathy?
How is the diagnosis typically made and is there a role for endomyocardial biopsy?
Why is genetic testing important once a diagnosis of an inflammatory cardiomyopathy is made? If the genetic test is positive in these patients what the clinical implications?