Clinical and predictive genetic screening in children with a first-degree relative with HCM is increasingly important, as phenotypic expression can manifest early and may not be benign.
This review highlights the paradigm shift in clinical and genetic screening for pediatric relatives of HCM patients, emphasizing early phenotypic expression and the role of genomics.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. While the aetiology is heterogeneous, most cases are caused by variants in the genes encoding components of the cardiac sarcomere, which are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in the role of clinical screening and predictive genetic testing in children with a first-degree relative with HCM, with the recognition that phenotypic expression can, and often does, manifest in young children and that familial disease in the paediatric age group may not be benign. The care of the child and family affected by HCM relies on a multidisciplinary team, with a key role for genomics. This review article summarises current evidence in clinical and genetic screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in paediatric relatives and highlights aspects that remain to be resolved.
Lawley et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Clinical and genetic screening was evaluated. Clinical and predictive genetic screening in children with a first-degree relative with HCM is increasingly important, as phenotypic expression can manifest early and may not be benign.