It s like a car speeding through an intersection on a green light. Most of the time, the car will make it through with ease, but many things can happen to prevent safe passage. If the brakes don t work, or another driver runs a red light, serious problems can result. Similarly, the period of time where the fastest and greatest number of changes are taking place within the fetal heart is also the time when some of the most serious heart defects are likely to occur. The causes of abnormal heart development are still largely unknown.
Environment plays a role.
Researchers at the University of Utah are also looking for genetic causes. Each year more than 25,000 infants born in the United States have heart defects. They are the most common cause of birth-defect related deaths. With so many effected or at risk, the aggressive and focused effort to find solutions to congenital heart defects is not only warranted, it is imperative. The Division of Reproductive Genetics is at present conducting an investigation into these defects.