An imbalance between protective and detrimental molecular pathways is associated with right ventricular dysfunction in congenital heart diseases with outflow obstruction

Congenital cardiac malformations are relatively common and can be associated with a poor prognosis. In CHD where the RV is the systemic ventricle or in abnormalities with RV outflow obstruction (RVOTO), such as pulmonary stenosis (PS) and Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), there is a RV pressure overload. Pressure overload causes ventricular hypertrophy, impairment of function and eventually dilatation. Despite the importance of RV dysfunction as a negative prognostic factor, no data are available on the molecular mechanisms associated to RV hypertrophy and failure.