ERRATUM: Genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular diseases. A position statement of the Polish Cardiac Society endorsed by Polish Society of Human Genetics and Cardiovascular Patient Communities.

According to the latest guidelines of European and American medical societies, genetic testing (GT) is essential in cardiovascular diseases for establishing diagnosis, predicting prognosis, enabling initiation of disease-modifying therapy, and preventing sudden cardiac death. The GT result may be relevant for cascade GT in the patient's relatives, for planning his/her profession and physical activity, and for procreative counseling. This position statement has been prepared due to the scarcity of GT in cardiovascular diseases in Poland and the need to expand its availability. We give a concise description of the genetic background of cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, aortopathies, familial hypercholesterolemia, pheochromocytomas, and paragangliomas. The article discusses various aspects of GT in specific populations, such as children or athletes, and also presents prenatal genetic diagnostics. We propose recommendations for GT and counselling, which take into account Polish needs and capabilities. We give an outline of legal regulations, good clinical practice in GT with respect for patient rights, the role of cardiologists and clinical geneticists in GT planning and post-test counseling, and the requirements for laboratories performing genetic tests. The Polish Cardiac Society and Polish Society of Human Genetics experts speak with one voice with cardiovascular patient communities to underline the need for a law on GT and increasing the availability of GT for cardiovascular patients.

Genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular diseases. A position statement of the Polish Cardiac Society endorsed by Polish Society of Human Genetics and Cardiovascular Patient Communities.

According to the latest guidelines of European and American medical societies, genetic testing (GT) is essential in cardiovascular diseases for establishing diagnosis, predicting prognosis, enabling initiation of disease-modifying therapy, and preventing sudden cardiac death. The GT result may be relevant for cascade GT in the patient's relatives, for planning his/her profession and physical activity, and for procreative counseling. This position statement has been prepared due to the scarcity of GT in cardiovascular diseases in Poland and the need to expand its availability. We give a concise description of the genetic background of cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, aortopathies, familial hypercholesterolemia, pheochromocytomas, and paragangliomas. The article discusses various aspects of GT in specific populations, such as children or athletes, and also presents prenatal genetic diagnostics. We propose recommendations for GT and counselling, which take into account Polish needs and capabilities. We give an outline of legal regulations, good clinical practice in GT with respect for patient rights, the role of cardiologists and clinical geneticists in GT planning and post-test counseling, and the requirements for laboratories performing genetic tests. The Polish Cardiac Society and Polish Society of Human Genetics experts speak with one voice with cardiovascular patient communities to underline the need for a law on GT and increasing the availability of GT for cardiovascular patients.

Cardiomyopathies in children and adolescents: aetiology, management, and outcomes in the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Childhood-onset cardiomyopathies are rare and poorly characterized. This study examined the baseline characteristics and 1-year follow-up of children with cardiomyopathy in the first European Cardiomyopathy Registry. METHODS: Prospective data were collected on individuals aged 1-<18 years enrolled in the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis long-term registry (June 2014-December 2016). RESULTS: A total of 633 individuals aged ≤18 years with hypertrophic [HCM; n = 388 (61.3%)], dilated [DCM; n = 206 (32.5%)], restrictive [RCM; n = 28 (4.4%)], and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy [ARVC; n = 11 (1.7%)] were enrolled by 23 referral centres in 14 countries. Median age at diagnosis was 4.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 0-10] years, and there was a male predominance [n = 372 (58.8%)] across all subtypes, with the exception of DCM diagnosed <10 years of age; 621 (98.1%) patients were receiving cardiac medication and 80 (12.6%) had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. A total of 253 patients (253/535, 47.3%) had familial disease. Genetic testing was performed in 414 (67.8%) patients with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant reported in 250 (60.4%). Rare disease phenocopies were reported in 177 patients (28.0%) and were most frequent in patients under 10 years [142 (30.9%) vs. 35 (19.6%); P = .003]. Over a median follow-up of 12.5 months (IQR 11.3-15.3 months), 18 patients (3.3%) died [HCM n = 9 (2.6%), DCM n = 5 (3.0%), RCM n = 4 (16.0%)]. Heart failure events were most frequent in RCM patients (36.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the heterogeneous aetiology of childhood cardiomyopathies and show a high frequency of familial disease. Outcomes differed by cardiomyopathy subtype, highlighting a need for disease-specific evaluation and treatment.