<p>New therapies for the treatment of heart failure: a summary of recent accomplishments</p>

Abstract

Despite continuous efforts to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), heart failure prevails as the number one cause of death in developed countries. To properly treat CVDs, scientists had to take a closer look at the factors that contribute to their pathogenesis and either modernize current pharmaceuticals or develop brand new treatments. Enhancement of current drugs, such as tolvaptan and omecamtiv mecarbil, sheds new light on already-known therapies. Tolvaptan, a vasopressin antagonist, could be adopted in heart failure therapy as it reduces pre- and afterload by decreasing systolic blood pressure and blood volume. Omecamtiv mecarbil, which is a myosin binding peptide, could aid cardiac contractility. The next generation vasodilators, serelaxin and ularitide, are based on naturally occurring peptides and they reduce peripheral vascular resistance and increase the cardiac index. In combination with their anti-inflammatory properties, they could turn out to be extremely potent drugs for heart failure treatment. Cardiotrophin has exceeded many researchers’ expectations, as evidence suggests that it could cause sarcomere hypertrophy without excessive proliferation of connective tissue. Rapid progress in gene therapy has caused it to finally be considered as one of the viable options for the treatment of CVDs. This novel therapeutic approach could restore stable heart function either by restoring depleted membrane proteins or by balancing the intracellular calcium concentration. Although it has been set back by problems concerning its long-term effects, it is still highly likely to succeed.

Cymbopogon Proximus Essential Oil Protects Rats against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis

“…The results of the present study provide the first evidence that C. proximus may confer cardioprotection against cardiac remodeling. Despite advances made in cardiovascular research over the last decades, therapeutic options available for the treatment for HF are limited to agents that either delay disease progression such as β-blockers or only control symptoms such as diuretics [28]. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic agents that either prevent the initiation of HF in high risk patients or regress cardiac hypertrophy during its progression [29].…”

Global mapping of interventions to improve the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases during 1990–2018

“…In addition, the development of technology has enabled the research of gene therapy or robot-assistant in CVD treatment [40]. However, gene therapy has shown modest success in clinical translation [41]. Meanwhile, robot-assistant has been tried and is being investigated for rehabilitation among patients after stroke [42,43].…”

The Dynamic Interplay Between Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis

“…Currently approved heart failure therapies target the short-term clinical status to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life, but long-term prognosis remains poor (Machaj et al, 2019). Treatments aimed at preventing the progression of heart failure or reversing maladaptive remodeling are an attractive target, but have culminated in minimal success.…”