Cases in Precision Medicine: Genetic Assessment After a Sudden Cardiac Death in the Family

Sudden death in a family is associated with serious anxiety among family members. Assessing the cause of death may help determine the risk for other family members, thus alleviating some anxiety. In some cases, the cause of death may be evident on autopsy; however, in cases of arrhythmias, standard autopsy will not reveal the cause of death. Evaluation of the circumstances of death, medical history of the deceased, and results of genetic testing may reveal a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made, relatives should receive genetic testing and clinical assessment to stratify their risk. Depending on their risk, various interventions are available, including medication, defibrillators, and lifestyle modifications.