Genetics of neonatal cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathies, primary disorders of the myocardium, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adults, and these disorders are responsible for a significant percentage of sudden cardiac deaths and cardiac transplants. Neonatal cardiomyopathies commonly are associated with poor prognosis, and the underlying etiology of this disorder differs considerably from cardiomyopathies in older children, adolescents, and adults with similar phenotypes. In this review, the major causes of neonatal cardiomyopathy are described.