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MARCH 2008
Genetic Testing Offers Prevention, Early Treatment for Heart Disease
Colleen Brown
Genetic Counselor
UCSF Program in Cardiovascular Genetics
To properly diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease, physicians often rely on invasive, expensive and sometimes painful procedures.
Today, many genes associated with hereditary cardiovascular diseases have been identified. A blood test and genetic evaluation can
identify patients who are likely to develop a familial disease and allow doctors to stop heart disease before it starts.
Marfan syndrome, familial cardiomyopathies, congenital heart defects and hereditary arrhythmias are caused by inherited
genetic mutations and may be life-threatening if untreated. But many people don't know they are at risk. If your patient has a
family history of cardiovascular disease, they’re candidates for genetic evaluation and DNA testing. If discovered early,
disease may be prevented or slowed with medication, surgery, lifestyle changes or an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD).
Genetic testing also can relieve worry by identifying family members who are not at risk.
For patients who already have cardiovascular disease, testing may help identify the most effective treatment plan.
Accurate tests and treatment can help reduce the number of related mortalities.
Cardiovascular Genetics
The UCSF Heart and Vascular Center has established the
Program in Cardiovascular Genetics, one of the first programs of
its kind on the West Coast. Its multidisciplinary team provides integrated cardiology and genetics evaluations and care for
families with hereditary cardiovascular disease. Experts
work closely with referring physicians through the evaluation process. They provide referring physicians and families with reports
summarizing the outcome of a patient's evaluation.
The program specializes in the following conditions:
The program emphasizes family outreach, counseling and treating the entire family, not just the affected individual.
The cardiovascular genetics team works with each patient to ensure that his or her family gets the counseling, testing and
care needed.
Specialty Clinics
The program includes two specialty clinics:
Familial Cardiomyopathy Clinic — Offers evaluation and treatment to patients with cardiomyopathies and
their families to determine the precise diagnosis and provide disease management and family outreach. The team includes specialists
in genetics, cardiomyopathy and cardiovascular failure; interventional cardiologists; and electrophysiologists as well as
cardiothoracic surgeons. Marfan Clinic — Offers care to patients with Marfan syndrome and other genetic
aortopathies and connective tissue diseases. Individuals who have, or may have Marfan syndrome, are evaluated
on the same day by a team of specialists, including those in genetics, ophthalmology, cardiology and orthopedics.
Referrals
To refer a patient, contact the Program in Cardiovascular Genetics at (415) 476-5354.
For more information, contact the Physician Referral Service at UCSF Medical Center:
Other Resources
Primary Care Connections — March 2008
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