2 Sisters with SVT?

I will have had my pm in 2 years next month. I'm 40 years old and was adopted when i was almost 2. I've the fortunate opportunity to meet my biological family including sisters. My younger sister by 2 years was diagnosed with the same condition..SVT and will be getting a pm next week. We are absolutely amazed that we have the same condition and at the same age will have put a pacemaker in. We have 1 older sister and a couple half sisters and brothers what are the probability that this could happen to 2 full blooded sisters? I asked my arrhythmia doctor and he said it wasn't hereditary? is that true or should me and my sister play the lottery :) anyone thoughts on this would so be appreciated.

5 Comments

My mom and me...

by golden_snitch - 2011-02-18 03:02:22

Hi,

SVT can be hereditary, that's what my EP told me. I have had AVNRT, and my Mom had that, too. We both underwent ablation. Now, she had her first episode of atrial flutter which I had, too, back in 2001 and for which I had another ablation.

BUT why a pacer for SVT? Pacer can't treat SVT, no chance. Did you have an ablation that damaged the AV-node or sinus node? Or do you have a heart block in addition to SVT?

Best wishes
Inga

Hereditary???

by donr - 2011-02-18 07:02:31

Who knows exactly what is heredity? My paternal side of the family tends to die from cancer. My maternal side tends to die from cardiac problems. So far, I've had prostate cancer & cardiac electric problems - both have been successfully treated!

My maternal grandmother had a PM back in the 80's. Two of her sons also have PM's. Now I have one. At least we all tend to live long lives in relative comfort courtesy of the PM's. I'm 74; uncles are in late 80's, early 90's. Still active.

I can go back three male generations on father's side & see that each direct male ancestor died an agonizing death from cancer. Tell ME that the genes don't have anything to do with it.

Lessee now, we know that Prostate & breast cancer are heredity related; perhaps some others I cannot think of. We know that early, fatal heart attacks are hereditary. Why not electrical problems???

Don

hereditary

by sugar - 2011-02-18 08:02:02

Hi,

I don't know if yours is the same condition as your sisters without testing.
I have what my mother had - exactly - I was born with this and I found out at age 24 and I am now 61 - my mother didn't have a pacemaker - mine was much worse and she did have heart disease which I do not have at all. I took better care of my health which is why I don't have the clogged arteries.
Life is amazing.

in the genes??

by ratsyp - 2011-02-18 12:02:45

I've also been told it not hereditary I don't believe it. My dad had symthoms like me, when talking to some aunts I found out their husbands (my dads brothers) have or had problems. Only to find out I also have first cousins with problems and now 2 of my own sisters are having problems. So I for one won't believe if I'm told "it's hereditary" go figure
Patsy

hereditary

by supergas - 2011-02-19 04:02:54

You haven't clarified what condition that you have that requires a PM. PM are implanted for a variety of rhythm problems having excessively slow heart rates in common. By the way, you need to be symptomatic with it, since many people have low rates and do not need a PM.

As far as the unrelated problem of SVT, there are three main types: AVNRT, AVRT (WPW) and atrial tachycardia. Only WPW has been shown to be "familial" -not hereditary since we have no information regarding genetic transmission. The vast majority of WPW is not familial. AVNRT is the most common SVT because it involves a little pathway that 90% humans own (the slow AV nodal pathway) so it makes it more difficult to attribute the SVT to a gene, per se. Undoubtedly, there is some link.

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