The First Cardiogenetics Center in Israel

Cardiovascular genetics is a rapidly evolving subspecialty within cardiovascular medicine. Advances in genome sequencing and molecular biology have enabled us to determine the genetic basis

of multiple cardiac conditions, including heart failure (cardiomyopathies), arrhythmias (channelopathies), lipid disorders, and vascular diseases. Further innovations in testing have made genetic diagnosis accessible and interpretable, in a way that it clinically meaningful.a

Many hereditary heart diseases are single gene disorders.  Most of these are dominant, which means that first-degree relatives of a patient have a 50% risk of carrying a genetic modification that puts them at higher risk to develop the condition of the primary patient. Because of this, there is a growing tendency to use a patient’s genetic information to treat him or her appropriately, and to identify relatives that may benefit from early intervention programs that can prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality.  At times the genetic information can lead to life-saving interventions, including implantation of defibrillators or specialized pharmacologic therapy. Genetic testing is rapidly becoming an integral part of the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary heart disease.a

This year, we established the Hadassah Center for Cardiogenetics, the first center of its kind in Israel.  The Center brings together cardiologists, geneticists, genetic counselors, cardio-thoracic surgeons, vascular specialists, neurologists, researchers, and support staff to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of families with hereditary heart disease. The center staff has expertise in diseases of the heart muscle, molecular abnormalities associated with dangerous arrhythmias, diseases of the aorta and connective tissue, diseases that affect both the heart and neurologic system, abnormal lipid metabolism, and congenital diseases of the heart. At times genetic results are not clear cut, and require professional integration of clinical cardiovascular findings, including those obtained from physical examination, imaging, and functional assessment together with reviews of the scientific literature.  This multi-disciplinary center allows for improved diagnosis, prognostication, and cascade family testing to identify and to manage risk. In some cases to it enables us to provide genotype-specific therapy.a

The center operates in the format of a “one stop shop.” We coordinate all required tests (cardio-evaluation, genetic counseling and genetic testing) at a single visit in the hospital.  This format is much easier for patients, and allows us to obtain the information we need to help our patients.a

The Hadassah Center for Cardiogenetics places Hadassah at the forefront of the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases of the cardiovascular system in Israel and the Middle East.  We look forward to using our expertise to identify new genetic abnormalities, to elucidate heretofore undescribed mechanisms of disease and ultimately to develop personalized treatment and perhaps even to use our knowledge to prevent the development of disease.a