Abstract 4371381: Outcomes of Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Cardiac Laminopathy: An Updated Systematic Review and Single-arm Meta-analysis.

Abstract

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia frequently observed in structural heart diseases, including cardiac laminopathy, a genetic cardiomyopathy associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and progressive systolic dysfunction caused by pathogenic variants in LMNA -encoded lamin A/C. While catheter ablation is a key therapeutic strategy for VT management, its efficacy in cardiac laminopathy remains poorly defined. Objective: This systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis aims to synthesize the available evidence in the literature on the role of VT ablation for patients with cardiac laminopathy. Methods: A single-arm meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, systematically searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies investigating VT ablation outcomes in patients with cardiac laminopathy. We applied an inverse variance random-effects model for a meta-analysis of proportions. Results: We included 6 cohort studies and 1 abstract comprising 62 patients with LMNA-related cardiomyopathy (mean age at 53.2 ± 9.7 years, 85% males, and 88% with an ICD). The predominant ablation strategy was endocardial/endo-epicardial in 93% of cases. Acute success rate following VT ablation was 37% (95% CI: 14 to 63%) and 28% of the patients required multiple procedures. Over a median follow-up of 26 (9-35) months, VT recurrence rate after ablation was 91% (95% CI: 76 to 100%; Figure A ). The all-cause mortality rate was 54% (95% CI: 39% to 70%; Figure B ), primarily driven by cardiac causes 51% (95% CI: 25 to 76%; Figure C ). There was an elevated rate of heart transplantation 14% (95% CI: 1 to 34%), highlighting overall poor outcomes in this patient population. Conclusion: Catheter ablation in cardiac laminopathy is associated with limited long-term efficacy, with high rates of VT recurrence, cardiovascular mortality and heart transplantation. These findings underscore the importance of ICD implantation for primary prevention and the pressing need to develop alternative treatment strategies. Further research is necessary to determine whether specific LMNA variants influence ablation outcomes and to explore emerging therapies targeting the underlying molecular mechanisms of cardiac laminopathy.