Reference Center for Adults Rare Cardiovascular Diseases

The Reference Center for Adults Rare Cardiovascular Diseases is the largest center for diagnosis, treatment, training and scientific research of hereditary channelopathies, cardiomyopathies, aortopathies and other rare cardiovascular diseases in Lithuania. The center consists of the Center of Cardiology and Angiology - a structural unit of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics which provides a wide range of cardiology outpatient and inpatient services.

Patients of the center are consulted by cardiologists, heart surgeons, geneticists, specialists of cardiovascular non-invasive ultrasound diagnostics, radiologists, etc. Center uses the most advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies: laboratory diagnostic, pathological diagnostic, radiological diagnostic, molecular diagnostics, medical and surgical treatment.

Rare cardiovascular diseases are life-threatening diseases. The diagnosis of these diseases is difficult and requires special diagnostics instruments and experience. There is no specific treatment for many rare diseases but timely diagnosis, appropriate monitoring of the patient and medical care can improve the quality of life of the patients and extend their life expectancy.

The main task is to detect the disease as early as possible which can only be done by a team of experienced cardiologists and other specialists. The aim of center is to ensure early diagnosis of rare cardiovascular diseases and patient health care. The activity of the center started in 2015.

The Reference Center for Adults Rare Cardiovascular Diseases closely cooperates with other centers and structural units of Vilnius university Hospital Santaross Clinics. There is an opportunity to use the most advanced diagnostic technologies and to treat with the most modern methods. An essential factor in the diagnosis of rare channelopathies, cardiomyopathies, aortopathies is productive cooperation with the genetics center. The achievements and accumulated experience of our centers provide quality support to patients with rare cardiovascular diseases. The Reference Center performs the most modern imaging tests (x-rays, angiograms, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography - computed tomography (PET-CT).

Our center is an affiliated member of the European reference center network GUARD-HEART (Rare and Low Prevalence Complex Diseases of the Heart) since 2019.

Since 2016 the center has developed a unique monitoring system for patients with rare cardiovascular diseases, which collects data on patients, the course of the disease and treatment. Every year, more than 200 new patients with suspected rare cardiovascular disease are consulted. More than 600 consultations were provided in 2017, and more than 700 in 2018. About 60 interventions per year are performed for patients with rare hereditary cardiovascular diseases.