Evidence of Clonal Hematopoiesis and Risk of Heart Failure

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is characterized by persistent clonal expansion of adult hematopoietic stem cells, which has been increasingly found to be associated with cardiovascular disease and adverse outcomes in heart failure. Here we outline emerging studies on the prevalence of CHIP, and its association with cardiovascular and heart disease. Recent Findings: Previous genomic studies have found CHIP mutations to be associated with increased risks of arterial disease, stroke, and mortality. Murine studies exploring TET2, DNMT3A, and JAK2 mutations have shown changes in cellularity that decrease cardiac function after insult, as well as increase inflammasome activation. Summary: Mutations in driver genes are associated with worse clinical outcomes in heart failure patients, as a potential result of the proinflammatory selection in clonal hematopoiesis. Advances in the field have yielded therapeutic targets tested in recent clinical studies and may provide a valuable diagnostic of risk in heart failure.