In particular, acute blockade of catecholamines effects can induce bradycardia that can be potentially life-threatening in patients with defects in atrio-ventricular conduction; moreover, acute blockade of β-ARs can worsen myocardial contractility and, consequently, induce or deteriorate HF in patients with myocardial infarction, cardiomegaly or compensated HF. Here, CTBP1 is linked to hydrops fetalis.