REVIEW THE ROLE OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS: INSIGHTS INTO GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Actuality: Congenital anomalies are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in
infancy and childhood. The occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) ranges from
4 to 50 per 1000 live births. Although progress has been made in understanding the
genetic factors contributing to heart defects, genetic causes only account for 15% of
CHD cases. The remaining cases arise from a complex interplay between genetic
susceptibility and environmental factors, including maternal substance abuse, cigarette
smoking, exposure to industrial chemicals, viral infections, and others, which can have
embryotoxic effects.