When a baby is born with single ventricular heart disease (SVHD), a condition where only one heart ventricle functions, it is often fatal without surgical intervention. This rare disorder affects 1 in 15,000 babies born in the U.S. and is caused by an underdeveloped lower heart chamber. Babies with this condition may experience rapid or labored breathing, bluish or ashen skin and difficulty feeding. Multiple surgeries are needed to ensure the child’s survival, beginning shortly after birth. These surgeries are lifesaving but lead to lifelong health complications, such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and liver disease, due to both the original defect and the additional surgeries required as the child grows.
To advance understanding of this complex condition, a new $13 million three-year research initiative will bring together scientists from multiple institutions to challenge current knowledge and explore potential cures for SVHD. Funded by the American Heart Association/Additional Ventures Collaborative Sciences Awards in Single Ventricle Heart Disease, the five teams involved will focus on different aspects of the disease and the complications caused by the numerous heart surgeries.
