aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

The aetiology is influenced by:

  • genetic factors, occasionally Mendelian, usually multifactorial inheritance
  • syndromes, for example:
    • oesophageal atresia and heart disease
    • forearm/digit abnormalities and ASD
  • chromosomal abnormalities:
    • Down's: ASD, VSD, AVSD
    • Turner's: coarctation
    • Trisomy 18 / 13: multiple abnormalities
  • drugs: phenytoin, lithium, thalidomide, warfarin
  • rubella: PDA, VSD, coarctation of the aorta
  • maternal systemic disease:
    • SLE: causes heart block
    • diabetes: causes increased incidence of structural heart disease and/or a characteristic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • maternal radiation