Electrophysiological Phenotype-Genotype Study of Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in Inherited, High Arrhythmic Risk, Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Among inherited cardiomyopathies involving the left ventricle, whether dilated or not, certain genotypes carry a well-established arrhythmic risk, notably manifested as sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT). Nonetheless, the precise localization and electrophysiological profile of this substrate remain undisclosed across different genotypes. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and left ventricle involvement due to high-risk genetic variants and SMVT treated by electrophysiological study were recruited from 18 European/US centers. Electrophysiological study, imaging, and outcomes data after ablation were assessed in relation to genotype. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included (49.6 Q1–Q3 [40–60] years, 76% men). They were divided into 4 groups according to the affected protein: desmosomal ( DSP , PKP2 , DSG2 , and DSC2 ), nuclear membrane ( LMNA and TMEM43 ), cytoskeleton ( FLNC and DES ), and sarcoplasmic reticulum ( PLN ). Desmosomal genes, TMEM43 , and PLN were associated with biventricular disease, while variants in LMNA and cytoskeleton genes had predominant left ventricle involvement ( P =0.001). The location of the clinical-SMVT substrate was significantly different based on genotype ( P =0.005). DSP and cytoskeleton genes presented SMVTs with right bundle branch block morphology, which origin was identified in the inferolateral segments of the left ventricle. The other desmosomal genes ( PKP2 and DSG2 ), along with TMEM43 , showed SMVTs with left bundle branch block morphology and predominantly right ventricular substrate. In contrast, LMNA substrate was mainly observed in the interventricular septum. During a median of 26 Q1–Q3 (10.6–65) months, 27% of patients experienced recurrences of clinical SMVT with differences between genotypes (log-rank 0.016). Nuclear membrane genes demonstrated the highest recurrence rate compared with desmosomal genes (hazard ratio, 4.56 [95% CI, 1.5–13.8]). CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic substrate of SMVTs shows a strong correlation with the underlying genotype, electrocardiographic morphology, and recurrence rate. Particularly, patients with nuclear membrane gene variants have a significantly higher recurrence rate compared with those with desmosomal gene variants.