Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions Service
On this page:
The Inherited Cardiovascular Condition service (ICC) at St George’s offers specialized care for the diagnosis, symptoms evaluation and management of patients and families affected with inherited cardiovascular conditions. We are a multidisciplinary team working across South-West London receiving supra-regional referrals from Surrey and the UK.
We work in close partnership with the Charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) with a focus on families with unexplained sudden death (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome – SADS). Professor Mary Sheppard, Consultant Cardiac pathologist, leads the CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology, St George’s University of London and works with the team providing expert cardiac autopsies.
The service offers 5-6 dedicated clinics per week with a family centred approach providing an integrated “one stop” shop assessment. Clinics are dedicated to cardiomyopathies, inherited arrhythmias, paediatric arrhythmias, familial evaluation after a sudden cardiac death, sports cardiology, as well as an aortopathy service and adolescent and transition service. We offer specialized management advice on risk stratification for sudden death, ICD implantation and electrophysiological ablation procedures, as well as evaluation and treatment of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with surgical myectomy and alcohol septal ablation. Furthermore, we offer cardiac screening for neuromuscular disorders and management of high risk pregnancy patients affected with inherited conditions
The multidisciplinary team is made up of Consultant Cardiologists, Consultant Geneticists, Consultant Electrophysiologist, Consultant Paediatric Electrophysiologist, Clinical nurse specialists, a clinic coordinator, genetic counsellors, cardiac technicians and administrative support staff.
We work closely with the cardiac imaging, heart failure and cardiothoracic surgical teams. The ICC service holds regular Multidisciplinary meetings (MDT) for ICC, Aortopathy and Genetics.
St George’s are leading Healthcare Partners in the European Reference Network (ERN) GUARD-HEART, supporting excellence in the management of patients across Europe and the delivery of education, training and research. Our team are strongly represented in national groups including the Association for Inherited Cardiac Conditions (AICC).
Conditions we treat:
Cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathies, Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, Left Ventricular Non- Compaction and other non-specific cardiomyopathies.
Inherited Arrhythmias: Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, Short QT syndrome, Early Repolarization syndrome, Unexplained Cardiac Arrest (Idiopathic VF), other inherited arrhythmias and evaluation of unexplained sudden cardiac deaths (SADS) and their families.
Inherited Aortic syndromes: TAAD, Marfan, Loeys-Diets syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, etc.
Cardiac screening: We offer cardiac evaluation, management and follow up to patients with neuromuscular disorders, metabolic conditions and other pathologies affecting the heart as a part of an inherited disorder.
Pregnancy: We look after pregnant patients affected with inherited cardiac conditions through the high risk pregnancy service, along with maternal services offering pre-conception joint counselling and genetic testing.
Research:
The team is supported by a cadre of research fellows. This provides the basis for the long standing tradition at St George’s of world class research in inherited conditions and sport cardiology. We have innovated in the development of excellent care for our patients.
Meet the team:
Consultants
Professor Sanjay Sharma
Dr Michael Papadakis
Professor Elijah Behr
Dr Maria Teresa Tome-Esteban ( Maite Tome)
Nurse Specialists
The nursing team can be contacted at stgh-tr.icc.clinic@nhs.net
Patient Pathway Coordinator
The team can can be contacted at stgh-tr.icc.admin@nhs.net
Secretaries
Timothy Houston Ext 1390
- Professor Sharma and Dr Papadakis
Catia Simao Ext 3576
- Dr Tome-Esteban
Athos Athanasiou Ext 4571
- Prof Behr
Outreach paediatric cardiologist consultant:
Dr Jan Till
Clinical genetic team:
Consultants:
Dr Tessa Homfray
Dr Anand Saggar
Genetic counsellors:
Virginia Attard
Heidy Brandon
How to refer or contact the team:
For GP referrals – please refer through Choose and Book – pathway of ICC/ICD and PICC
For Tertiary referrals – please email to stgh-tr.icc.clinic@nhs.net
Consultants: we accept consultant referrals from local and other units in the UK. We offer confirmation of the diagnosis, management advice, lifestyle advice and exercise prescription, treatment, familiar evaluation and advice on long term care. We offer long term and shared follow up models.
What happens after your referral is received:
Your referral will be reviewed and triaged by our cardiac specialist nurse in collaboration with our Consultant team. We will direct the referral within the multidisciplinary team to best address the question. You will be contacted prior to the appointment in order to plan best your visit to our unit. You will be asked about your family history and their history of heart conditions. Please bring along relevant medication, family information and previous medical history.
