ARRHYTHMOGENIC RIGHT-VENTRICULAR DYSPLASI A REVEALED BY VENTRICULAR EXTRASYSTOLE

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is one of the principal cau ses of sudden cardiac death in young subjects. In the absence of ventr icular tachycardia, the disease can be revealed by simple ventricular extrasystole. In the light of such a case, the authors discuss the val ue of various complementary investigations for the diagnosis of these clinical forms with little or no symptoms. Detailed examination of the electrocardiogram followed by a search for late ventricular potential s are decisive steps before proceeding to invasive investigations whic h often remain essential to confirm the diagnosis. The prognosis remai ns uncertain, and is always dominated by the risk of sudden death, eve n in these apparently minor forms of the disease. This point further e mphasizes the need for detection, which should be facilitated by the r ecent establishment of a list of diagnostic criteria.