The
Cardiomyopathy
Association

American company Clinical Data has announced it is expanding its genetic tests to include a new test for left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC).

The test will assist providers in diagnosing the condition and identifying family members who are potentially at risk.

LVNC is predominately a genetic condition characterised by excessive trabeculations (channels) in the left ventricular wall and can cause heart failure, arrhythmias and blood clots. It is thought the condition may develop in the womb.

The company has also announced the introduction of several enhancements to its genetic tests for conditions including dilated cardiomyopathy. With these new and enhanced tests, the company says it continues to offer the most comprehensive menu of genetic tests to diagnose or confirm familial heart diseases.

"Presently, there are no universally accepted criteria for diagnosing LVNC," said Dr John Jefferies, director of advanced heart failure and cardiomyopathy at the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

He said that given that LVNC is a clinically diverse disease, genetic testing may greatly assist in establishing the diagnosis, which impacts on future surveillance and possible need for medical therapies. He added: “Genetic testing offers the possibility of a more reliable and cost effective method for screening family members at risk than our current approach."

Meanwhile the addition of new genes to dilated cardiomyopathy testing is also a strong indication of the speed at which genetic discovery and validation of these markers is taking place, said a colleague.

The test will identify a mutation in approximately 30 per cent of patients with a high suspicion for LVNC, says the company.

The company also has a postmortem test to help in determining the genetic cause of sudden deaths for cardiac conditions such as cardiomyopathy.

The tests all belong to the company’s Familion range of tests that can confirm the diagnosis, help provide information about the risk of sudden death, guide treatment decisions, identify pre-symptomatic or silent carriers and enable genetic counselling.