Treatment
ARVD treatment is focused on controlling any arrhythmias and in managing any signs or symptoms of heart failure.
Medications
Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Most patients with ARVD take antiarrhythmic drugs, which can help reduce the frequency and severity of arrhythmias.
ACE Inhibitors
These are reserved for patients with signs or symptoms of heart failure. They make it easier for the heart to pump blood.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
Implantation of an ICD is a common treatment for ARVD. The ICD is a device placed just under the skin and is connected to wire leads that are threaded through the vein to the heart. An ICD constantly monitors the heart rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers a shock to the heart muscle to cause the heart to return to beating in a normal rhythm. However, since ARVD is a progressive disease, the arrhythmias will not be permanently cured as a result of the implantation of the device.
Heart Transplant
This is the most extreme treatment of ARVD and is rarely needed. It is done only as a last resort when other treatments are not working.