In the news

Source: Press release

 A new consensus statement on the value of diagnostic genetic testing for inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) has been released; these are heart disorders caused by genetic abnormalities, which collectively represent a significant sub-group of cardiac medicine, including arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

The scope and clinical benefits of genetic testing for the diagnosis of ICCS and co-ordinated services that include genetics have already been outlined by the PHG Foundation. This new statement outlines recommendations on testing for 13 ICCs, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome and dilated cardiomyopathy, and also provides guidance on genetic testing after sudden cardiac events in certain circumstances, and after sudden unexpected deaths. One of the experts behind the statement, Dr Silvia Priori, said that “genetic testing cannot be viewed as a one-size fits all solution, but its contribution to family screening and management in affected patients should be defined for each disease".  

Current provision of genetic testing in Europe is said to be ‘patchy’. Both this observation and the recommendations for testing of patients and families, including post-mortem analysis, closely mirror the findings of the 2009 PHG Foundation Heart to Heart report, which led to the prioritisation of improved services for ICCs in the UK by the Department of Health. Efforts to ensure cardiologists in Europe are properly informed about the value and proper application of genetic testing for different disorders are to be welcomed.