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This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about heart research. Aortic valve disease is a common heart defect and a major contributor to heart disease. The defect tends to narrow the passage between the left ventricle and the aorta, through which oxygenated blood is pumped to the body. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that a mutation in a key gene appears to cause this defect.
The researchers studied five generations of a family with this heart defect to find the gene.
Dr. Vidu Garg, the UT Southwestern researcher who led the study, says this knowledge could lead to ways to screen for the defect so heart disease could be prevented through interventions like medication or lifestyle changes. The research may also help lead to treatments.
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August 2005
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