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[Altered fibrillar collagen metabolism in hypertensive heart failure. Current understanding and future prospects]

Begoña López Salazar1, Susana Ravassa Albéniz, Teresa Arias Guedón

  • 1Area de Ciencias Cardiovasculares, Centro para la Investigación Médica Aplicada, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.

Revista Espanola De Cardiologia
|November 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Arterial hypertension causes myocardial fibrosis by disrupting collagen balance, leading to cardiac complications. This review covers fibrosis mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatments for hypertensive heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Arterial hypertension alters cardiac tissue composition, leading to myocardial remodeling.
  • Pathologic mechanisms include mechanical, neurohormonal, and cytokine processes affecting cardiac cells.
  • Imbalance in collagen synthesis and degradation contributes to fibrosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis in hypertension.
  • To discuss the clinical consequences of myocardial fibrosis.
  • To outline diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies for myocardial fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on arterial hypertension and myocardial fibrosis.
  • Analysis of mechanisms involving collagen metabolism in the myocardium.
  • Examination of clinical outcomes and diagnostic/therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Hypertension-induced disruption of collagen homeostasis leads to excess type-I and type-III collagen accumulation.
  • Myocardial fibrosis contributes significantly to cardiac complications in hypertensive patients.
  • Various diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies exist to manage myocardial fibrosis.

Conclusions:

  • Myocardial fibrosis is a key pathological process in hypertensive heart disease.
  • Understanding fibrosis mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention can mitigate cardiac complications.

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