Cardiovascular Disease and Congenital Heart Defects

Qing Wang, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Qiuyun Chen, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Published online: April 2006

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0003921

Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of heart disease. The revolutionary advances in molecular genetics have provided new insights into the responsible genes and pathogenic mechanisms of heart disease, including congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, heart failure and coronary artery disease.

Keywords: cardiac genetics; heart structure and function; heart development; congenital heart defects; cardiac arrhythmias

Figure 1. Blood flow in the circulatory system.
Figure 2. Genes involved in heart development.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Developmental Disorders | Organogenesis | Molecular Genetics of Common and Complex Disease | Mechanisms of Cell Death, Senescence and Metabolism
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Article Title: Cardiovascular Disease and Congenital Heart Defects
 
How to Cite close
Wang, Qing, and Chen, Qiuyun(Apr 2006) Cardiovascular Disease and Congenital Heart Defects. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003921]