Precision Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease Practice

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide, have a substantial genetic basis. The personalized medicine (PM) concept tailors therapeutic and preventive strategies according to the genomic, epigenomic, and proteomic profiles of each individual. In the field of cardiology, PM can help cardiologists and health care providers to prevent adverse drug reactions (ADR) and select the best-individualized medication. In addition, a considerable number of cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors have also a genetic basis. In this chapter, we thoroughly reviewed the genetic background in the metabolism of important cardiovascular drugs such as warfarin, clopidogrel, and statins. Moreover, the cardinal role of genetic pathways in the occurrence of cardiomyopathies, arrhythmia, and CAD will be discussed. Finally, the ethical issues and prospective of PM were also reviewed to lighten all aspects of PM in cardiovascular medicine.