DSC2
Associated conditions:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiomyopathy
DSC2 makes desmocollin-2, part of the desmosome, the molecular rivet that holds heart-muscle cells firmly together. Genetic changes in this gene weaken these connections and are associated with an autosomal dominant condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, in which muscle is replaced by fat and scar tissue, raising the risk of dangerous rhythms and sudden cardiac death. Knowing your genetic status enables cardiac surveillance.
Conditions linked to DSC2
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.
