We furthermore looked for transcript levels of key factors playing a role in pathological heart hypertrophy and fibrosis as a possible explanation for mortality (i.e. smooth muscle α actin, Acta2; β myosin heavy chain, βMHC; lectin, galactoside-binding soluble 3, Lgals3; connective tissue growth factor, Ctgf; procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer, Pcolce; and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, Serca2a). The gene discussed is PCOLCE; the disease is cardiac hypertrophy.