Predicting sudden death … and other research

Predicting sudden deathMy dad died of a sudden cardiac arrest when he was 48 years old. His death, like many similar cases, was never really explained. One recently discovered cause of sudden death is a genetic arrhythmia syndrome called calcium release deficiency syndrome (CRDS). Could a new test identify CRDS before it presents as a sudden death?This multicentre case-control study found a unique repolarisation response on electrocardiography (T wave amplitude) to brief tachycardia and a pause in 10 patients with CRDS compared with controls, which could form the basis of a predictive test. The human findings were replicated in genetic mouse models and were caused by abnormally high release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum during systole. This was a small preliminary report from an ongoing DIAGNOSE CRDS study that will take years to complete. It offers the prospect of a clinical diagnostic test for CRDS in families who have…
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