Desmosomal protein gene mutations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing cardiac transplantation: a clinicopathological study

Abstract

Mutations in desmosomal genes are frequent in patients with advanced DCM undergoing cardiac transplantation. These findings emphasise the importance of familial evaluation and genetic counselling in patients with end-stage DCM and pose important challenges for current histopathological criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.