[Left dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy caused by a novel nonsense mutation in desmoplakin]

Left dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (LDAC) exhibits characteristic phenotypic and genetic features which were found in the five Spanish family members described in this study. Triggered by a cold, a young man presented with a ventricular tachycardia of left ventricular origin and left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement. His resting ECG showed low potentials, delayed ventricular depolarization (inferior and V4-V6 leads) and atrioventricular conduction disturbances. His endomyocardial biopsy revealed myocyte loss with interstitial fibrosis. Despite the initial diagnosis of myocarditis, familial screening was pivotal in confirming the diagnosis of LDAC. A novel nonsense mutation in the desmoplakin gene (Q1866X) and the truncated protein which it produces were observed in skin samples.