Genetics of a heart valve disease

Our hearts have 4 sections, or chambers. The top two take in blood. The bottom two pump blood out. Blood goes through valves as it goes in and out of each chamber. The valves make sure blood only flows one way. The bottom left chamber pumps blood to your body. It leaves the heart through the aorta. A one way valve makes sure no blood comes back into the heart. This is the aortic valve.Calcific aortic valve disease, or CAVD, affects that valve. Over time, wear and tear can take its toll. Calcium can build up in the valve. CAVD can be mild. The valve gets thick, but it still works ok. Or it can get stiff and not open or close all the way. If it does not open right, it makes it harder for your heat to pump blood to your body. If it cannot close all the way, blood can flow back into your heart. Both can cause problems. Age is a factor. Not everyone will get CAVD. Younger people can also get it. A genetic disease that affect this heart valve can lead to it. Or if your kidneys stop working. Other gene changes may also play a part. Some gene changes can raise your risk for getting CAVD. Others may lower your risk.Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will use BioVU to study CAVD. They will look for people who do and do not have CAVD. Then they will look for gene changes in both groups. Then they also will look at patients with the genetic valve disease. They think that changes in one or more genes may lower our risk for CAVD. They want to find out who is or is not at risk for CAVD. The sooner we know if you are at risk, the sooner we can start to help. We want to slow down or even stop any changes to your heart valves. We want to keep your heart strong and healthy.