DES
Associated conditions:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiomyopathy
DES makes desmin, a fibre that holds heart and skeletal muscle cells together and supports the heart's electrical wiring. Genetic changes in this gene weaken this scaffold and are associated with an autosomal dominant risk of cardiomyopathy, muscle weakness, and conduction problems that can lead to dangerous rhythms. Knowing your genetic status enables timely treatment such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.
Conditions linked to DES
Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. Inherited forms can cause fast, irregular or dangerous rhythms and, rarely, sudden collapse, so carriers benefit from heart-rhythm testing, sometimes medication, and avoiding specific triggers.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle that can make it thickened, enlarged or weakened. Inherited forms can affect the heart’s pumping or rhythm, so carriers are monitored with heart scans and ECGs and treated early to protect heart function.
