Using genetic testing to guide therapeutic decisions in cardiomyopathy.

OPINION STATEMENT: Genetic analysis of human cardiomyopathy has rapidly transitioned from a strictly research endeavor to a diagnostic tool readily available to clinicians across the globe. In contemporary practice, genetic testing improves the efficiency of family evaluations and clarifies the etiology of ambiguous clinical presentations. The great promise of genetic diagnosis is to enable preventative therapies for individuals at high risk of future disease development, a strategy that is under active clinical investigation. However, in the present and future, careful interpretation of DNA sequence variation is critical, and can be ensured by referral to a specialized cardiovascular genetics clinic.