An inherited cardiac condition (ICC) clinic is a specialist NHS service that assesses, diagnoses, and manages patients with heart conditions that can run in families and increase the risk of serious arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, or sudden cardiac death. ICC clinics also coordinate cascade screening of family members who may be at risk.
What conditions are seen in ICC clinics
ICC clinics specialise in conditions including:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with a suspected genetic basis
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Long QT syndrome (LQTS)
- Short QT syndrome
- Brugada syndrome
- Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT)
- Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (unexplained cardiac arrest in a structurally normal heart)
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia (in some centres)
The multidisciplinary team
ICC clinics are typically staffed by specialist cardiologists with expertise in inherited conditions, cardiac nurses, clinical genetic counsellors, and clinical geneticists. They work closely with genetics laboratories for genetic testing and with device clinics for ICD management.
Cascade screening
One of the most important functions of an ICC clinic is coordinating the screening of first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) of an affected individual. Because many inherited cardiac conditions are autosomal dominant, a first-degree relative has a 50% chance of carrying the same genetic variant. Identifying at-risk relatives before they have an event can be life-saving.
How to access an ICC clinic
Referral is usually made by a cardiologist following identification of a suspected inherited condition. Patients can also be referred by their GP if a family history of sudden unexplained death or inherited cardiac condition raises concern. ICC clinics are available at major cardiac centres across the UK; NHS England provides a directory of services.
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