The Deep Phenotype of Lamin A/C Cardiomyopathy

This study seeks to discover clinically useful tests to improve the diagnosis of a rare and serious heart muscle disease caused by mutations in a gene called 'Lamin'. Patients born with lamin gene mutations have apparently healthy hearts initially, they begin experiencing symptoms in their twenties or thirties, and by age 45 the majority have undergone a heart transplant, experienced a major cardiac complication, or have died. Sudden heart rhythm abnormalities are a major cause of sudden death so earlier diagnosis can save lives by enabling timely treatment or implantation of specialised pacemakers (defibrillators). In clinical practice, diagnosis of lamin heart disease currently relies on the genetic test. Very little is known about the detailed imaging features of the hearts of patients with lamin heart disease although advanced echocardiography and cardiac MRI now offer the opportunity to study the health of the heart without the need for radiation.