Key Concepts of the Pathogenesis of Congenital Cardiovascular Malformations

Historical and contemporary concepts of the pathogenesis of congenital cardiovascular (CV) malformations have great influence on our interpretations of the clinical and pathomorphological pictures found in affected patients as well as on our perception of the possible role of the patient’s environment (risk factor analysis) in the evolution of the disease. They, furthermore, can provide the rationale for new therapeutic interventions (e.g., fetal therapies) as well as preventive strategies (e.g., periconceptional folate supplementation). Thus, pathogenetic concepts are not only of “academic” interest but also have great impact on our daily practice. The Manual’s section on “Prenatal Morphogenesis and Physiology of the Human Heart,” therefore, ends with a chapter presenting examples of historical as well as contemporary key concepts of the pathogenesis of congenital CV-malformations.