Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Investigating the Pathogenesis of MYH7 Mutation Gly823Glu in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy using a Mouse Model
Published on: August 8, 2022
Clinical Insights Into Heritable Cardiomyopathies
Hugo R Martinez1, Gary S Beasley1, Noah Miller1
1The Heart Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.
Insights
Heritable cardiomyopathies (CMs) are myocardial diseases with diverse genetic causes and symptoms, including heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Understanding genetic links aids risk stratification and family screening for better cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Human Genetics
- Molecular Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiomyopathies (CMs) are a diverse group of myocardial diseases affecting heart structure and function.
- These conditions range from asymptomatic to severe heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
- CMs are a significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity, heart transplantation, and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of heritable cardiomyopathies (CMs).
- To summarize pathogenic gene variants linked to common CM subtypes.
- To highlight the need for updated educational pathways in cardiovascular genetics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of heritable cardiomyopathies.
- Analysis of genetic and phenotypic associations.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on CMs and their genetic underpinnings.
Main Results:
- Identified common pathogenic gene variants for dilated, hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic, non-compaction, and restrictive cardiomyopathies.
- Detailed the spectrum of CM phenotypes, from silent to symptomatic heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
- Emphasized the growing gap between cardiovascular genetics knowledge and clinical awareness.
Conclusions:
- Understanding genetic/phenotypic associations in heritable CMs improves risk stratification and management.
- Genetic insights facilitate the identification of at-risk family members.
- Enhanced education in cardiovascular genetics is crucial for addressing the knowledge gap.
Abstract:
Cardiomyopathies (CMs) encompass a heterogeneous group of structural and functional abnormalities of the myocardium. The phenotypic characteristics of these myocardial diseases range from silent to symptomatic heart failure, to sudden cardiac death due to malignant tachycardias. These diseases represent a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, cardiac transplantation, and death. Since the discovery of the first locus associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 30 years ago, multiple loci and molecular mechanisms have been associated with these cardiomyopathy phenotypes. Conversely, the disparity between the ever-growing landscape of cardiovascular genetics and the lack of awareness in this field noticeably demonstrates the necessity to update training curricula and educational pathways. This review summarizes the current understanding of heritable CMs, including the most common pathogenic gene variants associated with the morpho-functional types of cardiomyopathies: dilated, hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic, non-compaction, and restrictive. Increased understanding of the genetic/phenotypic associations of these heritable diseases would facilitate risk stratification to leveraging appropriate surveillance and management, and it would additionally provide identification of family members at risk of avoidable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cardiomyopathy VI: Nursing Management

