Posts by Robert A. Levine, MD
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Cilia Defects During Fetal Development Can Cause Mitral Valve Prolapse
Altered developmental processes involving primary cilia can lead to mitral valve prolapse, proving that it isn't always an age-related disease.
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Discovering the Genes Causing Mitral Valve Prolapse
Robert Levine, MD, is a senior physician in Mass General's Cardiac Ultrasound Lab and was recently named an AHA Distinguished Scientist. In this video, he discusses his team's focus on discovering the genes causing mitral valve prolapse, the most common cause for operation for mitral regurgitation. -
Five Sessions to See at #AHA18
From machine learning to metabolic disease, the topics discussed and presented by Mass General clinicians and researchers at #2018 foster a dialogue that contributes to the transformation of cardiovascular care in the practice setting and the improvement of heart health for patients.
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Novel Therapeutic May Prevent Mitral Valve Damage After Heart Attack
Damage to the mitral valve after heart attack leads to HF and death. Treatment with hypertension drug may reduce mitral valve scaring and stiffening.
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Left Ventricular-Mitral Valve Ring Ratio May Predict Recurrent Mitral Regurgitation
Researchers found that a mismatch in left ventricular and mitral valve ring size can predict whether a patient is at a higher risk of recurrent mitral regurgitation after mitral valve repair.
Biography
Dr. Levine's career focuses on using imaging techniques to explore mechanisms of valvular heart disease in order to develop and test more specific and effective therapies. This mission encompasses diseases of excess valve motion (prolapse, obstructive systolic anterior motion) and deficient valve tissue relative to the remodeling ventricle after heart attack. He devotes substantial time to guiding the career development of emerging investigators both in Boston and as part of the Leducq MITRAL Transatlantic Network. The Leducq Transatlantic Network of Excellence in Mitral Valve Disease, based in the Division of Cardiology at MGH and coordinated by Dr. Robert A. Levine in the Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, applies techniques of molecular genetics and cell and developmental biology to clinically derived material and experimental models of mitral valve disease, a major source of heart failure and mortality worldwide. It aims to discover common themes among different conditions affecting the mitral valve and to understand the lexicon of growth signals that can lead to successful interventions. The network fosters dynamic interactions among basic and clinical investigators at MGH and major national and international institutions. This alliance of investigators moves genetic findings into model systems to understand their effect on valve biology and test potential therapies while providing junior investigators opportunities for career growth.
