Congenital heart disease combined with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A CARE compliant case report and literature review

RATIONALE: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a hereditary cardiomyopathy disease discovered in 1994. Though there are advances in diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, early diagnosis is still difficult especially when it is combined with other diseases with similar pathophysiologic changes, such as left to right shunt congenital heart disease (CHD). In this paper, we reported a case of CHD combined with ARVC. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was referred to us for chest tightness and shortness of breath after physical activities. His cardiac MRI indicated the possibility of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. He was diagnosed with a large atrial septal defect (ASD) through ultrasound examination. DIAGNOSIS: CHD ASD combined with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent occlusion of the ASD and he was followed-up closely. His symptoms were relieved a lot and the activity tolerance was elevated. LESSONS: CHD may accompany with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Careful history collection and comprehensive examinations should be emphasized. We firmly believe that our work will be helpful for the medical practice of similar complicated cardiovascular diseases.