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Published on: June 10, 2025
Prognostic Value of Hormonal Abnormalities in Heart Failure Patients
Paola Gargiulo1, Stefania Paolillo1, Francesca Ferrazzano2
1IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy.
Insights
Chronic heart failure (CHF) may stem from hormone deficiencies, not just overactive systems. This review explores evidence of reduced anabolic drive in CHF patients, suggesting new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Current chronic heart failure (CHF) models focus on overactive neurohormonal systems like the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and adrenergic pathway.
- Despite neurohormonal treatments, high CHF mortality and hospitalization rates persist, indicating limitations in current therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence suggesting CHF is a multiple hormone deficiency syndrome.
- To summarize findings on the reduced drive of key anabolic axes in chronic heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating hormonal imbalances in chronic heart failure.
- Analysis of evidence linking reduced anabolic drive to functional and prognostic outcomes in CHF.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a reduced anabolic drive in chronic heart failure.
- This deficiency in anabolic hormones has significant implications for patient function and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Chronic heart failure may be characterized by deficiencies in anabolic hormones.
- Targeting these anabolic axes could offer novel therapeutic strategies for managing CHF.
Abstract:
The model used to explain the pathophysiologic substrate and progressive worsening in chronic heart failure (CHF) is based on the hyperactivity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and adrenergic pathway. Although the neurohormonal medical approach has many advantages, it has several pitfalls, as demonstrated by high rates of CHF mortality and hospitalization. A growing body of evidence has led to the hypothesis that CHF is a multiple hormone deficiency syndrome, characterized by a reduced anabolic drive that has relevant functional and prognostic implications. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence of reduced drive of main anabolic axes in CHF.
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