Mass. However, the genes that Seidman and her colleagues studied produce the force that allow cells to contract. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a relatively common but poorly understood group of disorders, the team writes. About 25 to 30 percent of all cases result from inherited genetic defects. The study here discusses non-ischemic types of cardiomyopathy. The importance of the findings is that perhaps 25 percent of all such cases can be due to gene defects, which are often inherited.
Many cardiomyopathy disorders cause deadly arrhythmias.
Early identification of high risk patients can allow early treatment with medications to prevent sudden death and , in some cases , even allow implantation of defibrillators. Identifying the genes will make it possible to perform these tests. For now , such tests may be recommended for families that have a history of death from heart arrhythmia at an early age. All rights reserved. Before accessing or using HeartInfo, please read our Disclaimer and Privacy Policy .