Molecular genetic mechanisms of dilated cardiomyopathy

Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing cardiovascular condition with a prevalence of similar to 40 million individuals worldwide [1]. While HF can be caused by acquired conditions such as myocardial infarctions and viruses [2], the genetic basis for HF is rapidly emerging particularly for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that is the most prevalent HF type. In this review, insights from the rapid expansion in next-generation sequencing technologies applied in the HF clinic are merged with recent functional genomics studies to provide a contemporary view of DCM molecular genetics.