At Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Heart Center we offer a world-class cardiovascular genetics program for children of all ages and adults.

Our doctors and clinicians can help determine if there is a genetic reason for a certain heart condition, be it a structural heart defect, a connective tissue disorder, or a heart rhythm problem.

We make appointment scheduling easy. Call us today to meet with our team.

What You Can Expect On Your Visit

At Children’s Heart Center, our cardiovascular genetics team consists of physician experts in pediatric and adult cardiology and clinical genetics, as well as genetic counselors.

You will be asked questions about any family history of heart, connective tissue or genetic conditions. Your provider will perform a careful physical examination and review diagnostic testing, which may include electrocardiography (EKG) or other heart rhythm testing, echocardiography (ultrasound imaging of the heart) and sometimes cardiac MRIs or CTs.

Depending on our findings, we may perform genetic testing from a blood sample. Some conditions have a specific test that can confirm a diagnosis. In other cases, based on other findings, we can make a diagnosis of a certain condition even in the absence of a positive genetic test. Also, even if previous genetic testing has been negative, there are constantly new developments and discoveries, so we may have additional testing to offer you.

Conditions

Aortic and vascular diseases

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and/or dissection
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
• Loeys-Dietz syndrome
• Marfan syndrome

Congenital heart defects and syndromes

• Alagille syndrome
• Chromosome abnormalities and microdeletions
• Heterotaxy syndrome
• Noonan syndrome

Familial rhythm disorders

• Brugada syndrome
• Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
• Long QT syndrome
• Sudden cardiac death/cardiac arrest

Inherited heart muscle diseases

• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy

Neurodevelopmental Issues

Sometimes, neurodevelopmental problems may be related to an underlying genetic issue. This may prompt us to send certain types of genetic testing. These tests can help explain why a child has the neurodevelopmental issues in addition to their heart problem.

Treatment

Treatment for you or your child will vary depending on the underlying genetic condition and heart issue. Our cardiologists will be able to determine the best course of therapy.

For structural heart issues that require catheter intervention or surgery, Children’s Heart Center’s interventional cardiology and cardiac surgical services are second to none.

Some issues are best managed with medication, including some of the heart rhythm problems.

Our electrophysiology and arrhythmia services can help for any patient that may need advanced procedures such as pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, or ablations.

Still, for other conditions, no treatment is necessary. However, we can continue to follow and monitor any condition that needs careful observation.

An advantage of a genetic diagnosis is that it can clue us into other organ systems that may need to be evaluated. We can refer you or your child to any appropriate specialist, be it a neurologist, ophthalmologist or anyone else. We can also help test family members to determine if they may be a carrier for a particular condition. This is especially helpful for parents planning future pregnancies.