Specialized Diagnosis and Care for Genetic Heart Conditions
The Cardiovascular Genetics team at Cincinnati Children’s diagnoses and manages genetic heart conditions in both children and adults. At our three specialty clinics, families have access to genetic counseling and genetic testing for heart disease, as well as advanced, personalized treatment options for specific disorders.
What is a Genetic Heart Condition?
Some heart conditions have a genetic cause. With a genetic heart condition, families can pass down genetic variants for the condition from one generation to the next, or genetic variations can happen for the first time in a child without being inherited. Genetic testing helps identify if a heart condition is genetic and if others in a family are at risk of also inheriting the condition.
Benefits of Cardiovascular Genetics Programs
Cardiovascular genetics programs help providers and families understand if a heart condition is genetic. Understanding genetics can lead to better diagnosis and targeted long-term care for the patient and their family, including:
- Advice on the risks and timing of surgery
- Appropriate referrals and management
- Discussion of health risks and other conditions (co-morbidities)
- Counseling on how the disease may progress and future development (anticipatory guidance), so families understand what to expect and why
- Counseling on how likely the condition will affect current or future generations (recurrence risk)
- Identification of at-risk relatives and how to help families manage risks
Why Choose Cincinnati Children’s
At Cincinnati Children’s, you get the highest level of expertise. Our Cardiovascular Genetics team includes a well-rounded group of geneticists, genetic counselors and cardiologists. We specialize in caring for patients with genetic heart conditions. We also work closely with many cardiology specialists, including from the General Cardiology Clinic, Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Center, Fetal Heart Program, Preventive Cardiology, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology Program.
Each of our specialty Cardiovascular Genetics clinics provides you with highly personalized, convenient care. First, we look at the heart diagnosis and family history to determine which providers would best address your specific needs. Then, we arrange for the appropriate visit type.
If you already have a heart doctor, your visit may involve a meeting with a genetic counselor followed by genetic testing. Or you may work with a cardiologist and geneticist who may recommend an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). Your visits and treatment plan are personalized to your family’s needs. Our goal is to help you make the best decisions for you, your child and the rest of your family—for the best possible future outcomes.
Our Cardiovascular Genetics Clinics
We offer three specialty clinics where you can receive expert care:
- Cardiology Genetic Counseling Clinic: Provides genetic counseling, most often through telehealth, for patients with heart disease or a family history of heart disease. Genetic counselors will also discuss and recommend genetic testing, if needed and desired.
- Marfan and Aortic Disease Clinic: Combines the fields of cardiology and genetics to help patients with aortic disease or connective tissue disorders associated with aortic disease, such as Marfan syndrome.
- Cardiology Genetics Clinic: Supports people with a heart condition who have a suspected or existing genetic syndrome and need evaluation and care from a clinical geneticist.
