Phospholamban Cardiomyopathy Leading to Advanced Heart Failure in an Active Duty Service Member

Mil Med. 2024 Aug 23:usae396. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usae396. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

A phospholamban mutation is a rare genetic cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Our case describes a young service member who presented with advanced heart failure and was found to have a familial DCM from an autosomal dominant phospholamban mutation. He ultimately underwent a successful heart transplant just 23 days after his initial presentation. This case highlights the importance of genetic screening and surveillance for patients with a family history of DCM, and it identifies a gap in medical standards for military accession.