Cardiogenetics: the importance of identifying patients with hereditary heart disease

During the past decade, developments in the field of DNA diagnostics have resulted in the confirmation of the genetic nature of several cardiac diseases. In a cardiogenetics outpatient clinic, a cardiologist and a clinical geneticist together evaluate persons with a (possible) hereditary cardiac disease. It is of utmost importance that patients with hereditary cardiac diseases be recognised and subsequently referred for genetic counselling as several preventive and therapeutic options are available.