Genetics and cardiovascular disease: the impact of molecular diagnosis
Vengoechea, J.; McKelvey, K.D.
Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society 109(11): 230-232
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-1858 PMID: 23691714 Document Number: 665087
Information technology is exponentially reducing the cost of genetic testing while multiple clinical applications emerge. Genetic diagnosis increasingly impacts prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. In cardiovascular medicine, the establishment of a specific genetic diagnosis may affect management of cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, connective tissue and metabolic disease. Econometric studies have determined that genetic testing is cost-effective in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and disease-specific interventions are now available for specific conditions. Identification of a specific genetic disorder now allows for more precise medicine in the affected individual and more accurate preventive care for asymptomatic family members.