Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer
08:37

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer

Published on: November 15, 2024

Alcohol abuse and heart failure

Irma Laonigro1, Michele Correale, Matteo Di Biase

  • 1Department of Medical and Occupational Sciences, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

European Journal of Heart Failure
|April 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Heavy alcohol consumption for over five years can lead to asymptomatic alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Continued drinking progresses ACM to symptomatic heart failure (HF), with high mortality rates without abstinence.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Toxicology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) affects patients consuming >90 g of alcohol daily for >5 years.
  • ACM is a significant cause of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy in Western societies (21-36%).
  • Progression from asymptomatic to symptomatic heart failure (HF) occurs with continued alcohol intake.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review experimental and clinical evidence on alcohol's role in ACM pathophysiology.
  • To discuss the mechanisms leading to alcohol-induced heart failure (HF).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental studies.
  • Analysis of clinical evidence.
  • Synthesis of data on alcohol's impact on cardiac function.

Main Results:

  • Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is a direct cause of cardiomyopathy.
  • Alcohol directly damages cardiac myocytes, leading to structural and functional changes.
  • Abstinence is critical for improving outcomes in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Conclusions:

  • Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity with high mortality if alcohol use continues.
  • Complete alcohol abstinence is essential for managing ACM and preventing HF progression.
  • Understanding alcohol's pathophysiology is key to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

More Related Videos

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations01:26

Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations

Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation01:30

Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation

Heart failure can be classified in various ways, with the most common classifications based on physical activity limitations, disease progression, severity, and treatment strategies.The Functional Classification of Heart Failure divides patients into four categories based on physical activity limitation due to symptom burden.Class I: Patients in this class have cardiac disease but no physical activity limitations. Ordinary activities like walking, climbing stairs, or routine tasks do not cause...