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Number 10
Drugs for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Pumping blood 24/7
your heart takes no days off.
It is however, prone to an array
of conditions that can affect its function.
Heart failure
with preserved ejection fraction
occurs when ventricular muscles contract normally,
but are thickened and stiff,
impairing relaxation.
The left ventricle is unable to properly
fill with blood.
Leaving less available
to be pumped out to the body.
Current recommendations for treatment
are directed toward accompanying conditions
and symptom relief.
It is common to treat high blood pressure
and coronary artery disease,
or encourage weight loss
and quitting smoking, when applicable.
But a class of medications
used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes
is now being explored for heart failure
with preserved ejection fraction.
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2.
SGLT2 inhibitors,
are drugs that prevent
the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys,
lowering blood sugar
and reducing excess fluid.
SGLT2 inhibitors became an agent of interest
when they showed reduced risk of
cardiovascular death
and heart failure hospitalization,
in a cohort of patients
with Type 2 diabetes.
Later explored in individuals with heart failure
and reduced ejection fraction without diabetes,
the inhibitors showed similar results.
Research is ongoing,
but promising,
in patients with preserved ejection fraction.
With an FDA decision anticipated in 2020.
These drugs,
among others,
are introducing potential new treatment options
for patients with this heart failure subtype.
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