Fetal Cardiology, the Frontier of Pediatric Cardiovascular Medicine

Over many years, researchers and clinicians in pediatric and fetal cardiology have undertaken the study of the cardiovascular system during the time from conception until birth. The fastest and most crucial cardiac and vascular developments take place during this period. In humans, the heart is formed and functional at 8 weeks of gestation. Cardiac malformations during gestation can be observed in 0.8% to 1% of neonates and altered development of the cardiac muscle or conduction tissue can lead to cardiomyopathy or arrhythmias. These alterations may be determined by the interaction of genetic or environmental conditions to which the fetus is subjected. In this overview, we will cover the historical background leading to the birth of fetal cardiology, the present state of development of this relatively new clinical discipline, and a speculation on what can be expected in the near future.