Two-minute cheek swab to identify children at risk of fatal heart condition
- A quick, two-minute cheek swab has been found to help identify children at risk of Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a rare but potentially fatal inherited heart condition.
- ACM is responsible for over 10 per cent of sudden cardiac deaths in young people and can develop and strike without warning.
- An early study revealed that the non-invasive cheek swabs detected protein abnormalities linked to ACM in youngsters up to five years before a diagnosis was confirmed by other hospital tests.
- The research, led by experts at City St George’s, University of London, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, suggests the swab could aid early detection.
- Researchers are currently developing home-based swab kits, which could provide accurate and timely diagnosis of ACM and potentially save lives.