Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Establishing a Swine Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Heart Failure for Stem Cell Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2020
Metabolic support for the heart: complementary therapy for heart failure?
Ward A Heggermont1,2,3, Anna-Pia Papageorgiou1,2, Stephane Heymans1,2
1Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Research, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
The failing heart has an increased metabolic demand and at the same time suffers from impaired energy efficiency, which is a detrimental combination. Therefore, therapies targeting the energy-deprived failing heart and rewiring cardiac metabolism are of great potential, but are lacking in daily clinical practice. Metabolic impairment in heart failure patients has been well characterized for patients with reduced ejection fraction, and is coming of age in patients with 'preserved' ejection fraction. Targeting cardiomyocyte metabolism in heart failure could complement current heart failure treatments that do improve cardiovascular haemodynamics, but not the energetic status of the heart. In this review, we discuss the hallmarks of normal cardiac metabolism, typical metabolic disturbances in heart failure, and past and present therapeutic targets that impact on cardiac metabolism.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

