Inherited cardiac conditions
At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, our specialists provide advanced care for people and families affected by genetic heart conditions. We offer comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation, genetic testing, genetic counselling and screening to identify inherited risks early and manage them effectively.
Our team offers expert management of inherited heart conditions through advanced imaging, testing and personalised management.
We provide care not just for individuals, but for families — helping every generation protect their heart health with knowledge, confidence and world-leading support.
What are inherited cardiac conditions?
Inherited cardiac conditions are heart problems caused by changes in the DNA. These variants affect how the heart muscle or electrical system works and can lead to serious complications, including sudden cardiac death.
Inherited cardiac conditions often fall into two main groups — cardiomyopathies and channelopathies.
Cardiomyopathies
Cardiomyopathies are diseases that affect the heart muscle. They can make it harder for your heart to pump blood or keep a normal rhythm. Common types include:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and stiff, which makes it harder for the heart to fill properly and increases the risk of irregular heart rhythms.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle) becomes enlarged and weakened, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood efficiently.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy. The heart muscle becomes stiff and less flexible, making it harder for the heart to fill with blood between beats. It's rare and usually affects older adults.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). A rare inherited condition where the right ventricle's muscle is replaced by fatty or scar tissue. This can cause heart rhythms that are not typical and sometimes affects the left ventricle too.
- Unclassified cardiomyopathy. Other, less common forms of cardiomyopathy that don't fit into the main types.
Channelopathies
Channelopathies are inherited disorders and sometimes include dangerous conditions that can cause irregular heartbeats and cardiac arrest.
- Long QT syndrome (LQTS) causes fast, chaotic heartbeats. The irregular heartbeats can be life-threatening. LQTS affects the electrical signals that travel through the heart and cause it to beat.
- Brugada syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening heart rhythm condition (arrhythmia). People with Brugada syndrome have an increased risk of irregular heart rhythms beginning in the lower chambers of the heart ventricles.
- Early repolarization syndrome is an abnormality in the heart's electrical recovery process that can increase the risk of arrhythmias.
- Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) triggers irregular heart rhythms during stress or exercise.
- Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (idiopathic VF) involves dangerous irregular rhythms with no known structural cause.
Inherited heart conditions can exist from birth but may not cause symptoms until later in life. In some cases, they are only discovered after a sudden cardiac death in the family.
Diagnosing inherited cardiac conditions
At Mayo Clinic Healthcare, our experts in cardiology, genetics and genetic counselling work together to evaluate your heart health and identify inherited risks.
You may be referred for evaluation if you:
- Have a known diagnosis of a genetic heart condition.
- Experience symptoms such as palpitations, fainting, breathlessness or chest pain.
- Have a family history of cardiac conditions or sudden death.
Your assessment usually begins with a cardiac genetics nurse or genetic counsellor, who will discuss your personal and family medical history. They will explain the testing process, what the results may show and how they could affect your care.
Depending on your situation, your care team may recommend:
- Advanced cardiac imaging, such as echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, CT coronary angiogram or transoesophageal echocardiogram to assess the heart's structure and function.
- Advanced electrocardiography (ECG) to record the heart's electrical activity.
- Genetic testing to identify gene variants linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and channelopathies such as Brugada syndrome or long QT syndrome.
After testing, your cardiologist will review your results, discuss your personal and family risks, and design a care plan tailored to your needs. Family members also may be offered testing or screening when appropriate.
Management options
Once your condition is diagnosed, your team will create a management plan designed to reduce your risk of complications and improve your quality of life. Depending on your needs, your personalised plan may include:
- Lifestyle adjustments to help avoid certain activities or triggers that can provoke irregular heart rhythms.
- Medication management to control heart rhythm and prevent dangerous episodes.
- Regular monitoring through ongoing follow-up appointments and heart rhythm checks to ensure your management remains effective.
To ensure you get the exact care you need, your Mayo Clinic Healthcare consultant may refer you to a trusted health professional for advanced procedures, including:
- Implantable devices, such as a defibrillator that delivers a lifesaving shock when dangerous rhythms occur, or a pacemaker to help control the heartbeat.
- Surgical procedures that can be used in rare cases to remove or alter tissue or nerves that contribute to arrhythmias.
Your Mayo Clinic Healthcare cardiologist will take the time to explain each option clearly so that you understand the benefits and potential risks.
After your consultation, we'll share your care plan with your GP or referring specialist to ensure coordinated, continuous support.
Book your appointment
If you're experiencing symptoms of an inherited cardiac condition or want a second opinion, contact us today. Our experienced inherited cardiac condition specialists near you can help by providing expert inherited cardiac condition care.
Request an appointment online or call us at +44 (0) 207 871 2575.