Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, abbreviated CPVT, is an inherited genetic disorder that predisposes people to potentially life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms. The arrhythmias typically occur during exercise or emotional stress and classically take the form of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Those affected may have no symptoms, or may experience blackouts or sudden cardiac death. It is caused by mutations in proteins that regulate calcium in heart muscle cells, most often the RYR2 gene. It is often diagnosed from an exercise ECG or by genetic test, and is treated with beta blockers, flecainide, sympathetic denervation or an implanted defibrillator. It was first defined in 1978. This record is not medical advice.