European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on June 24, 2005
European Heart Journal 2005 26(20):2179-2184; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi378
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Familial recurrence of congenital heart disease in patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defect
1Pediatric Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
2Regional Epidemiologic Unit of Campania, Naples, Italy
Received 16 July 2004; revised 28 April 2005; accepted 19 May 2005; online publish-ahead-of-print 24 June 2005.
* Corresponding author: Via Brezza, Parco Arcipelago, Scala H, 81043 Capua (CE), Italy. Tel: +39 0823621749; fax: +39 0817062683. E-mail address: dr.caputo{at}katamail.com
Aims Ostium secundum atrial septal defect (osASD) is one of the most common cardiac malformations. Few data are available on the familial recurrence of congenital heart disease (CHD), in particular, in a large group of patients with isolated osASD. The aim is to investigate the familial recurrence of CHD in up to third-degree relatives from a large sample of consecutively enrolled patients with osASD, taking into account the influence of degree of relatedness (as number of relatives).
Methods and results From January 1998 to December 2002, we enrolled 583 patients with osASD and 408 healthy subjects, referred to our tertiary centre. We hypothesized that a positive family history required at least one relative with CHD to constitute a risk factor. In this model of analysis, the null hypothesis is a similar familial history between cases and controls. Among 583 patients with osASD, 109 (19%) had at least one relative with CHD. Among the 408 healthy subjects studied, only 23 (6%) had a family history of CHD. A familial recurrence of CHD was demonstrated in 72 of 312 (23%) patients with isolated osASD and in 37 of 271 (13.6%) patients with non-isolated osASD. Familial recurrence of isolated osASD was demonstrated in 22 of 312 patients (7%) with an isolated osASD and only in six of 271 patients (2.2%) with non-isolated osASD. The familial recurrence risk of isolated osASD in patients with isolated osASD was higher in sibs, especially in sisters (33.3%).
Conclusion This study underscores the role of genetic factors in the determination of CHD, particularly osASD. Our results could represent the basis for further studies to calculate a ‘value of family history’ to adapt the familial recurrence to the real size of each family group. In this way, we could select families with a ‘tendency’ to develop CHD, particularly osASD. In these families, we could analyse the genetic pattern to establish abnormalities and the bases of CHD.
Key Words: Congenital heart disease • Atrial septal defect • Familial recurrence