Relevance of gene therapy in cardiac insufficiency

Gene therapy for heart failure patients is still in an experimental stage. However, it is a promising tool to provide detailed understanding of the patho-bio-chemical processes involved in failing heart muscle cells. Current literature and experimental pre-clinical studies highlight the potential role of gene therapy in cardiac insufficiency. Transvascular application and intramyocardial injection are possible clinical applications for viral vectors. At present, the most sophisticated vectors are adeno-associated viruses which allow an effective gene transfer with minimum immunogenicity.