An Approach to Treating Cardiac Hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy, as has been explained in lecture, is a relatively common condition characterized by a thickening of the cardiomyocytes in the heart’s freewall. Athletes’ hearts hypertrophy in response to the strain they put on them in training, which allows the heart to pump more blood in times of need. This is considered healthy, and is a normal physiological response to exercise.

There is, however, a pathological form of cardiac hypertrophy that occurs as a response to other problems in the cardiovasculature: from a chronically increased volume load, a chronically increased pressure load, heart diseases (valve disease, various cardiomyopathies), genetic abnormalities, or as a consequence of coronary artery disease. Cardiac hypertrophy impairs the heart’s compliance, meaning it cannot contract and relax as easily, which means it is more difficult for the heart to undergo systole and diastole.

About a year and a half ago, Dr. Lezanne Ooi of the University of Leeds identified three proteins that greatly influence the pathologic form of ventricular hypertrophy. The first two, ANP and BNP, exist at high levels in the hearts of fetuses, babies and children, and lower levels in mature adults. Dr. Ooi found that levels of ANP and BNP are abnormally high in adults with cardiac hypertrophy. Dr. Ooi also found a third protein, REST, that impairs the rise in the levels of the first two, offering an approach to treating the disease directly rather than treating just its symptoms.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070605120913.htm

http://www.cvphysiology.com/Heart%20Failure/HF009.htm