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The Role of the Pericardium in Heart Failure: Implications for Pathophysiology and Treatment

Barry A Borlaug1, Yogesh N V Reddy1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

JACC. Heart Failure
|June 29, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The pericardium, a sac around the heart, tightens as heart failure worsens. This review explores targeting pericardial restraint for better heart function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • The elastic pericardium applies compressive force to the myocardium.
  • This force intensifies with increased heart volume, common in heart failure (HF).
  • Pericardial restraint significantly influences hemodynamics and ventricular function in health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiology of pericardial restraint in heart failure.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting pericardial restraint.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of physiological mechanisms.
  • Analysis of existing and potential therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Pericardial restraint is a key factor in HF pathophysiology.
  • Both indirect and direct therapeutic targeting of the pericardium are plausible.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding pericardial restraint is crucial for managing heart failure.
  • Future therapies may directly modulate pericardial function to improve cardiac performance.

Keywords:
heart failurehemodynamicspericardium

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