Living with Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
A heart rhythm condition in which exercise or strong emotions can trigger a dangerously fast heartbeat.
Understanding Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
When the heart rate rises with physical activity or emotional stress, it can trigger a very fast heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia. Episodes can cause light-headedness, dizziness, and fainting. They usually begin in childhood. If CPVT is not recognized and treated, an episode may cause the heart to stop beating (cardiac arrest).
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Dizzy spells
- Pounding or racing heartbeat (palpitations)
- Fainting (syncope)
- Ventricular tachycardia (very fast heartbeat)
- Atrial fibrillation (irregular upper-chamber beating)
- Cardiac arrest (heart stops beating)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and heart and blood vessel specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
SADS Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: SADS Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with SADS Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says changes in genes cause CPVT. It may be inherited in an autosomal dominant way, where one changed gene copy can cause it, or in an autosomal recessive way, where a child gets a changed copy from each parent.
Also known as: bidirectional tachycardia induced by catecholamine; bidirectional ventricular tachycardia induced by catecholamine; catecholamine-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; cpvt; cvpt; double tachycardia induced by catecholamines
Patient organizations
- SADS FoundationCatecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
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