DSP
Associated conditions:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiomyopathy
DSP makes desmoplakin, a rivet that binds heart muscle cells firmly together so they contract as one. Genetic changes in this gene weaken those links and are associated with an autosomal dominant condition called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, letting muscle be replaced by scar tissue and causing dangerous rhythms. Knowing your genetic status enables monitoring and, sometimes, a defibrillator that can prevent sudden cardiac death.
Conditions linked to DSP
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.
