Causes
Congenital heart disease is caused when something disrupts the normal development of the heart.
It's thought that most cases occur when something affects the heart's development during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. This is when the heart is developing from a simple tube-like structure into a shape more like a fully-formed heart.
While some things are known to increase the risk of congenital heart disease, no obvious cause is identified in most cases.
Increased risk
There are a number of things that can increase the chances of a child having congenital heart disease. Some of these are described below.
See types of congenital heart disease for more information on the different heart defects mentioned below.
Genetic conditions
Several genetic health conditions that a baby inherits from one or both parents can cause congenital heart disease. It's also recognised that certain types of congenital heart disease run in families.
Down's syndrome is the most widely-known genetic condition that can cause congenital heart disease. Children with Down's syndrome are born with a range of disabilities as the result of a genetic abnormality.
About half of all children with Down's syndrome have congenital heart disease. In many cases, this is a type of septal defect.
Other genetic conditions associated with congenital heart disease include:
- Turner syndrome – a genetic disorder that only affects females; many children with Turner syndrome will be born with congenital heart disease, which is usually a type of valve or artery narrowing problem.
- Noonan syndrome – a genetic disorder that can cause a wide range of potential symptoms, including pulmonary valve stenosis.
Maternal diabetes
Women with diabetes have a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with congenital heart disease than women who don't have diabetes.
This increased risk only applies to type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It doesn't apply to gestational diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy and usually disappears once the baby is born.
The increased risk is thought to be caused by high levels of the hormone insulin in the blood, which may interfere with the normal development of a foetus (the early stages of the baby developing in the womb).
Alcohol
If a pregnant woman drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy, it can have a poisonous effect on the tissue of the foetus. This is known as foetal alcohol syndrome.
It's common for children with foetal alcohol syndrome to have congenital heart disease – most often, ventricular or atrial septal defects.
The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that pregnant women shouldn't drink alcohol. If you choose to drink, you shouldn't drink more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week to minimise the risk to your unborn baby.
See Can I drink alcohol if I'm pregnant? for more information about alcohol and pregnancy.
Rubella
Rubella (German measles) is an infectious condition caused by a virus. It isn't usually a serious infection for adults or children, but it can severely affect an unborn baby if a mother develops a rubella infection during the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
A rubella infection can cause multiple birth defects, including congenital heart disease. All women of childbearing age should be vaccinated against rubella. The vaccine is now given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Contact your GP for advice if you're not sure whether you've been vaccinated against rubella.
Flu (Influenza)
Women who get flu during the first trimester (3 months) of pregnancy are at greater risk of having a baby with congenital heart disease than the general population. The reasons for this are unclear.
The flu vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women.
Medications
There are several medications linked to an increased risk of a baby being born with congenital heart disease. These include:
- certain anti-seizure medications – such as benzodiazepines (for example diazepam)
- certain acne medications – such as isotretinoin and topical retinoids (see treating acne for more information)
- ibuprofen – women who take the painkiller ibuprofen when they are 30 or more weeks pregnant have an increased risk of having a baby with a heart problem
Paracetamol is a safer alternative to ibuprofen during pregnancy, although ideally you should avoid taking any medicines while you're pregnant, particularly during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
See Can I take ibuprofen when I'm pregnant? and Can I take paracetamol when I'm pregnant? for more information and advice.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you're unsure about which medications should be avoided during pregnancy.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic condition present from birth. In PKU, the body can't break down a chemical called phenylalanine, which builds up in the blood and brain. This can cause learning and behavioural difficulties.
PKU can usually be effectively treated with a low-protein diet and dietary supplements. Pregnant mothers with PKU who don't do this are more likely to give birth to a baby with congenital heart disease than the general population. Read more about phenylketonuria and pregnancy.
Organic solvents
Women who are exposed to some organic solvents may be more likely to give birth to a baby with congenital heart disease than the general population.
Organic solvents are chemicals found in a wide range of products and substances, such as paint, nail polish and glue.
Page last reviewed: Sat Jun 2021 Next review due: Wed Feb 2020
