Phenotypic Expression, Natural History, and Risk Stratification of Cardiomyopathy Caused by Filamin C Truncating Variants

Background: Filamin C truncating variants () cause a form of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: the mode of presentation, natural history, and risk stratification of remain incompletely explored. We aimed to develop a risk profile for refractory heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias in a multicenter cohort of carriers.

Methods: carriers were identified from 10 tertiary care centers for genetic cardiomyopathies. Clinical and outcome data were compiled. Composite outcomes were all-cause mortality/heart transplantation/left ventricle assist device (D/HT/LVAD), nonarrhythmic death/HT/LVAD, and sudden cardiac death/major ventricular arrhythmias. Previously established cohorts of 46 patients with and 60 with -related arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies were used for prognostic comparison.

Results: Eighty-five patients carrying were included (42±15 years, 53% men, 45% probands). Phenotypes were heterogeneous at presentation: 49% dilated cardiomyopathy, 25% arrhythmogenic left dominant cardiomyopathy, 3% arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular ejection fraction was <50% in 64% of carriers and 34% had right ventricular fractional area changes (RVFAC=(right ventricular end-diastolic area - right ventricular end-systolic area)/right ventricular end-diastolic area) <35%. During follow-up (median time 61 months), 19 (22%) carriers experienced D/HT/LVAD, 13 (15%) experienced nonarrhythmic death/HT/LVAD, and 23 (27%) experienced sudden cardiac death/major ventricular arrhythmias. The sudden cardiac death/major ventricular arrhythmias incidence of carriers did not significantly differ from carriers and carriers. In carriers, left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with the risk of D/HT/LVAD and nonarrhythmic death/HT/LVAD.

Conclusions: Among patients referred to tertiary referral centers, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is phenotypically heterogeneous and characterized by a high risk of life-threatening arrhythmias, which does not seem to be associated with the severity of left ventricular dysfunction.

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