An Unexpected Case of Severe Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

TL;DR

A 14-year-old boy with no prior health issues had lightheadedness and was later diagnosed with severe heart disease, showing the importance of early testing for subtle symptoms.

Contribution

Highlights the importance of early cardiac investigation in children with non-specific symptoms.

Findings

T-wave inversions on ECG led to further testing and diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Severe features of the disease were confirmed via echocardiogram and MRI.

The case underscores the risk of sudden cardiac death from undiagnosed heart conditions in children.

Abstract

We present the case of a previously healthy 14-year-old boy who experienced two episodes of lightheadedness while sitting under the sun. The patient did not experience syncope and denied experiencing any other symptoms. Moreover, he exhibited great functional capacity. An electrocardiogram showed T-wave inversions in leads V1 to V4. Subsequent echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with severe features. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a disorder characterized by fibrofatty degeneration of the myocardium and is a common cause of sudden cardiac death. This case highlights the significance of early investigation in any child who presents with seemingly benign symptoms, as they may be indicative of a serious cardiac disease.

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