What Is Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, How Is It Caused, And How Should It Be Treated?

— -- Question: What is arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, how is it caused, and how should it be treated?

Answer :Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia we term ARVD, and it is a genetic problem. It occurs in different regions of the country and different parts of the world, and it's a genetic abnormality that primarily involves the right ventricle. So that's the lower chamber on the right that pumps blood into the lungs. The muscle in that chamber can be replaced with fibrous tissue or fatty tissue in patients with ARVD. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle and heart failure, but it can also lead to serious heart rhythm problems called ventricular tachycardia. The treatment for the heart rhythm problems is an implantable defibrillator. The treatment for the heart failure problems is medications, and at times these people require a heart transplantation.