Persistent right ventricular hypertrophy with sudden cardiac death is often linked to which condition in athletes?

Persistent right ventricular hypertrophy with sudden cardiac death is often associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). This condition primarily affects the right ventricle, leading to fibrofatty replacement of the myocardial tissue, which results in structural and electrical abnormalities. In athletes, especially those involved in intense physical training, this can manifest as increased workload on the heart, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy.

The risk of sudden cardiac death in individuals with ARVC is significant, particularly in young athletes, due to the potential for fatal arrhythmias that can arise from the altered cardiac structure and electrical conduction pathways. Athletes may not present with symptoms until they experience a life-threatening event, making awareness of ARVC critical in sports medicine.

While other conditions may also lead to cardiac complications in athletes, the specific combination of persistent right ventricular hypertrophy and risk of sudden cardiac death strongly correlates with ARVC. Other conditions like Brugada syndrome, myocarditis, and long QT syndrome have their own associations with cardiac events but do not primarily present with persistent right ventricular hypertrophy in the same context.