Treatment of Familial Heart Disease at Clínic

The care activity for genetic and family heart disease at the Hospital Clínic is organized around two queries:

• CARGE. Patients and relatives with primary arrhythmic syndromes (channelopathies) and syndromes associated with sudden death (including arrhythmogenic dysplasia) are seen. In 2018, more than 800 patients were visited, almost 200 first visits and 600 follow-up visits.
• CARFAM & CARMIO. Patients and relatives with hereditary cardiomyopathies and patients with aortic pathology of genetic origin are seen. In the last year, 370 patients were visited, with 160 first visits and 210 follow-up visits.

The Genetic and Hereditary Heart Disease Unit is recognised as a Leading National Centre (CSUR) for the care of patients with hereditary heart disease by the Spanish Ministry of Health. This means it is able to provide care to patients and families from all over the country, provided that the following requirements are met: 

• Patients residing in Catalonia who are referred by their primary care physician or cardiologist to the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
• Patients residing in other communities must make an appointment through referral to the CSUR center from their Autonomous Community (SIFCO).

Because these are pathologies that affect families and individuals of different ages, the Clinic works in coordination with Hospital Sant Joan de Deu. Similarly, it offers specific and integrated care for all diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in coordination with various departments of the ICCV (Cardiovascular Institute): imaging and non-invasive tests, arrhythmias, haemodynamics and heart surgery. In particular, the Clinic has expertise in septal myectomy procedures in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ablations of complex tachycardias, and heart transplants. 

Meanwhile, it works in direct collaboration with other departments to provide comprehensive care:

• Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department: for pre-gestational genetic counselling, decision-making during pregnancy when one of the parents suffers from a genetic heart disease and, finally, management of pregnant patients who are carriers of these pathologies (with or without implantable defibrillator). 

• Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Department: To provide the necessary psychosocial support.