Cor Vasa 2018, 60(5):e508-e511 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.09.005

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy of left ventricle. A rare event, but possible

Michele Scarano^a,*, Germana Gizzi^a, Cesare Mantini^b

^a Cardiology Unit, Emergency Department, Hospital "Madonna del Soccorso", San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy

^b Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a form of inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by fibro-fatty substitution mainly right ventricular (RV). Affected patients may succumb to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure. It is even more common among athletes who experience sudden cardiac death (SCD). The disease involvement is not limited only to the RV, but the left ventricle (LV) can also be involved. We have reported a case of a 38-year-old man, with two episodes of syncope in his history. After echocardiographic investigations, the patient was referred to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Morphological images showed fatty infiltration of the epicardial layer of LV lateral wall (mid and apical segment). A diagnosis of 'Isolated Left-Sided Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy' was made. An ICD implantation was performed, and a medical therapy with enalapril and bisoprolol was started.

Keywords: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, cardiomyopathy; Cardiomyopathy; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Left sided arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; Sudden cardiac death; Syncope; Ventricular arrhythmia

Received: July 9, 2017; Revised: September 20, 2017; Accepted: September 27, 2017; Published: October 1, 2018  Show citation