Heart failure runs in your family, and you're wondering whether it's genetic. That question has a definitive answer — and it changes what your physician monitors and when.
Whole genome sequencing identifies TTN, LMNA, SCN5A, and other DCM variants — enabling early cardiac surveillance and proactive management for you and your relatives.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease. It is the most common indication for heart transplantation worldwide. Prevalence is approximately 1 in 250 to 500. Familial DCM accounts for 20–50% of cases, predominantly with autosomal dominant inheritance. Age-related penetrance is typical — some gene variants show >90% penetrance by the seventh decade. Clinical presentation includes heart failure symptoms, conduction disease, arrhythmias, and risk of sudden cardiac death. LMNA-related DCM is notable for prominent conduction system disease (atrioventricular block, bundle branch blocks) that often precedes overt cardiomyopathy by years.
TTN (titin) encodes the largest known human protein, which spans half the sarcomere and functions as a molecular spring providing elasticity; truncating variants (TTNtv) are the most common genetic cause of DCM, found in 15–25% of cases. LMNA encodes lamin A/C, nuclear envelope proteins critical for gene regulation and nuclear structural integrity; variants cause DCM combined with conduction disease and high arrhythmic risk (4–8% of DCM). SCN5A encodes the cardiac sodium channel; loss-of-function or specific missense variants can cause DCM, sometimes overlapping with Brugada syndrome or conduction disease phenotypes. Over 12 genes have definitive or strong evidence for DCM causation.
Identifying a DCM-causing variant has major clinical and family implications. For TTN truncating variants, the finding confirms a genetic basis and informs counseling; however, interpretation remains challenging because approximately 3% of the general population carries truncating TTN variants. For LMNA variants, earlier and more aggressive heart failure management is warranted, and close monitoring for conduction disease is essential. For SCN5A variants, assessment for Brugada features is important. Cascade testing of relatives identifies asymptomatic mutation carriers who may benefit from early imaging, activity modification, and preventive medical therapy. For families, genetic testing clarifies previously ambiguous clinical pictures and guides prognostication.
TTN truncating variants, LMNA variants, and SCN5A variants operate through distinct mechanisms and carry different prognostic implications — TTN truncations typically later-onset, LMNA typically earlier with conduction disease, SCN5A variable.
Standard DCM panels test 30–50 genes but identify mutations in only 20–40% of familial cases. TTN interpretation remains particularly challenging.
TTN is too large and complex for standard sequencing
TTN is the largest human gene with 364 exons spanning 364 kilobases of DNA. Standard panel sequencing often has poor coverage of TTN's repetitive regions, leading to missed variants and false-negative results. Additionally, approximately 3% of the general population carries truncating TTN variants, complicating pathogenicity assessment. TTN missense variants are generally not considered disease-causing, yet they are frequently reported on DCM panels and labeled as variants of uncertain significance. Whole genome sequencing with sufficient depth can capture the complete TTN sequence and enable more accurate variant detection and interpretation.
A finding enables family screening and gene-informed management
When a pathogenic DCM variant is confirmed, it triggers cascade testing of relatives — identifying asymptomatic mutation carriers who may have no cardiac symptoms yet. Gene-specific management applies: LMNA carriers warrant more aggressive monitoring for conduction disease and arrhythmia risk, justifying lower thresholds for ICD implantation. TTN truncating variant carriers may have more variable expressivity but still benefit from activity monitoring and imaging surveillance. SCN5A-related DCM warrants assessment for Brugada features. Early identification of at-risk relatives enables preventive intervention — aggressive heart failure management, arrhythmia surveillance, and ICD placement if warranted — potentially avoiding progression to transplant candidacy.
Your full DNA (not just a part of it)
Traditional genetic testing looks at narrow sets of genes, missing most parts of your genome. We sequence your full genome — every gene and every region between genes.
Comprehensive insights and specialized reports
Easy to read and with answers you and your doctor can act on. Not a file to interpret — 200+ clinical reports, organized by category.
Your test becomes more valuable every year
Your DNA does not change, but genome science is accelerating. Every month, new variant-disease associations are discovered. We validate these findings and update your reports automatically. Your test becomes more valuable every year.
The results doctors bring to their hardest cases.
Forty years of uncertainty. One test.
A patient had spent decades in the UK healthcare system without a diagnosis. Dante data, accepted by NHS clinical teams at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, identified Noonan Syndrome and a RUNX1 leukemia-associated variant that had gone undetected. After 40 years, they finally had an answer.
A complete read delivers a complete picture.
A patient came to Dante to investigate periodic paralysis. Reading the complete genome identified a concurrent hereditary cardiac finding — Brugada syndrome — that their doctor confirmed with an ECG. The result also explained a family member's unresolved cardiac history. One test. Every answer in it.
Sequenced in 2019. The data worked in 2021.
Jennifer sequenced her genome with Dante two years before her breast cancer diagnosis. When treatment began, Dante's pharmacogenomics data showed her prescribed chemotherapy would cause serious adverse effects. Her doctor selected an alternative — and she started effective treatment from day one.
Every genetic question deserves a complete answer.
Whether you are searching for answers today or protecting your health for tomorrow, a complete read of your entire genome is the only place to start.
It runs in your family. Now you can know if it runs in your genes.
Your genome contains inherited variants associated with medical conditions like cardiac, cancer, and neurological. We read all of them — with the clinical depth to give the result meaning.
Learn more →When traditional lab tests say you're fine. And you know you're not.
Standard diagnostic tests check for a pre-selected set of answers. We sequence your full DNA — including parts that no test was designed to check. If the answer is in your genome, we will help you find it.
Learn more →Your diagnosis may be right. Your treatment plan may be incomplete.
Your genes determine which treatments are most likely to work — and which are not. We give your doctor the tools and insights to inform your treatment plan.
Learn more →You want to know before something forces the question.
Some people don't wait for a diagnosis or a family history to act. Whole genome sequencing gives you the complete genetic picture now — so you and your doctor can make informed decisions before anything becomes urgent.
Learn more →You already took a DNA test. Here's what it couldn't tell you.
Most consumer DNA tests read less than 0.1% of your genome. We read all of it.
Learn more →Clinical-grade results. Chosen by individuals, trusted by doctors for their most complex cases.
Dante Genome Test helped specialists at a UK national acute hospital in the identification of Noonan Syndrome and a rare leukemia-associated genetic variant that had gone undetected. That result changed the medical care of the patient.
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Common questions about whole genome sequencing.
What is the difference between whole genome sequencing and a targeted genetic test?
Targeted genetic tests — including standard hereditary cancer panels — read a pre-defined list of known variants in a specific set of genes. They are designed to find what they already know to look for. Whole genome sequencing reads your entire genome: all 6 billion base pairs, every gene, every region between genes. A Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Oncology found that standard testing guidelines missed more than half of patients with inherited cancer mutations. Genome Test does not have a fixed list.
What will I receive when my results are ready?
Your Dante Genome delivers 200+ physician-ready reports organized by clinical category — hereditary cancer, cardiac conditions, rare diseases, pharmacogenomics, carrier status, and more. Reports are delivered to your secure Genome Manager and are formatted for direct clinical use. Your genome data is permanently retained and re-analyzed automatically as science advances.
What happens if a clinically significant variant is found?
If a pathogenic or likely-pathogenic variant is identified, it will be clearly flagged in your physician-ready report with clinical context, published evidence, and recommended next steps. We recommend sharing any clinically significant finding with your physician or a genetic counselor, who can guide decisions about surveillance, risk reduction, or cascade testing for family members.
How is this different from a consumer DNA test like 23andMe or AncestryDNA?
Consumer DNA tests use genotyping chips that read less than 0.1% of your genome — a tiny pre-selected set of common variants. They are optimized for ancestry and population-level traits, not clinical genetic findings. The Dante Genome Test sequences 100% of your genome at 30X coverage, the same standard used in clinical diagnostic settings. The two tests are not comparable in scope, methodology, or clinical utility.
How long does it take to get results, and how are they delivered?
Your collection kit ships within 48 hours of ordering. Once your sample arrives at our CLIA-certified laboratory, sequencing and analysis takes 6–8 weeks. Results are delivered securely to your Genome Manager, where you can access your reports, share them with your physician, and receive automatic updates as new findings are validated against your genome.
We work with patient advocacy groups worldwide.
Dante Labs works with patient advocacy groups of any size — for Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions, rare and common. We support groups in any country, including virtual patient advocacy groups.
We can provide customized reports, group discounts, and packages tailored for your members. Please reach out using the form and we'll be in touch within two business days.
- Custom genomic reports for your members
- Group discounts and tailored packages
- Any country — including virtual groups
- Rare and common conditions covered
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One test.
A lifetime of answers.
One kit, sent to your home. Your entire genome sequenced at the clinical standard used for diagnostic decisions. 200+ physician-ready reports delivered to your Genome Manager in 6–8 weeks — permanent and updated as science advances.
Ships within 48 hours · Results in 6–8 weeks
