Title |
Recommendations for genetic testing and counselling after sudden cardiac death: practical aspects for Swiss practice.
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Published in |
Swiss Medical Weekly, January 2018
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DOI | 10.4414/smw.2018.14638 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Medeiros Domingo, Argelia, Bolliger, Stephan, Gräni, Christoph, Rieubland, Claudine, Hersch, Deborah, Asatryan, Babken, Schyma, Christian, Saguner, Ardan, Wyler, Daniel, Bhuiyan, Zahir, Fellman, Florence, Osculati, Antonio Marco, Ringger, Rebekka, Fokstuen, Siv, Sabatasso, Sara, Wilhelm, Matthias, Michaud, Katarzyna, , , Swiss Working Group on Sudden Cardiac Death, , Argelia Medeiros Domingo, Stephan Bolliger, Christoph Gräni, Claudine Rieubland, Deborah Hersch, Babken Asatryan, Christian Schyma, Ardan Saguner, Daniel Wyler, Zahir Bhuiyan, Florence Fellman, Antonio Marco Osculati, Rebekka Ringger, Siv Fokstuen, Sara Sabatasso, Matthias Wilhelm, Katarzyna Michaud, Swiss Working Group on Sudden Cardiac Death |
Abstract |
There is a need to standardise, within a coordinated Swiss framework, the practical aspects of genetic testing and genetic counselling on possibly inherited cardiovascular disorders in relatives of a sudden cardiac death (SCD) victim. Because of the major advances in genetic investigation techniques and recent publication of international guidelines in the field of cardiology, genetics and pathology, we consider it important to summarise the current evidence and propose an optimal approach to post-mortem genetic investigation for SCD victims and their families in Switzerland. In this article, we discuss important technical, financial and medico-ethical aspects, and provide updated information on specific situations in which forensic pathologists, general practitioners and cardiologists should suspect a genetic origin of the SCD. At present, the principles of benefit, the duty to warn and the impact of genetic information for family members at risk are considered as strong justifications for post-mortem disclosure and prevail over the arguments of respect for a deceased person's privacy and confidentiality. This paper underlines also the need to update and improve the general knowledge concerning the genetic risk of cardiovascular pathologies, the importance to perform an autopsy and post-mortem genetic testing in SCD victims, and to develop standardized post-mortem disclosure policy at national and international levels for SCD cases and relatives. |
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Mexico | 3 | 50% |
Netherlands | 1 | 17% |
Unknown | 2 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 17% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Unknown | 25 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Other | 4 | 16% |
Researcher | 3 | 12% |
Student > Bachelor | 2 | 8% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 2 | 8% |
Student > Master | 2 | 8% |
Other | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 11 | 44% |
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 12% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 4% |
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Linguistics | 1 | 4% |
Other | 2 | 8% |
Unknown | 13 | 52% |