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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae
Published on: February 17, 2023
Relaxin and the Cardiovascular System: from Basic Science to Clinical Practice.
Rafael Clara Martins1,2,3, Mariana Pintalhão1,2,3, Adelino Leite-Moreira1,2,4
1Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Relaxin, a peptide hormone, shows cardiovascular benefits but failed in clinical trials for acute heart failure. Further research is needed to explore its therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Relaxin is a peptide hormone initially associated with reproductive physiology.
- Recent research highlights relaxin's cardiovascular effects and therapeutic potential in disease.
- Serelaxin (recombinant human relaxin-2) was investigated for acute heart failure treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review relaxin's physiological actions on the cardiovascular system.
- To discuss relaxin's role in cardiovascular disease pathophysiology.
- To summarize clinical data and future directions for serelaxin in acute heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of relaxin's cardiovascular effects.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for serelaxin in acute heart failure.
- Discussion of future research avenues for relaxin in cardiovascular disease.
Main Results:
- Early phase II studies showed promising results for serelaxin in acute heart failure.
- The RELAX-AHF-2 trial yielded disappointing outcomes.
- Acute heart failure treatment remains a significant unmet medical need.
Conclusions:
- Despite initial promise, serelaxin did not prove effective for acute heart failure.
- Further investigation is required to harness relaxin's beneficial cardiovascular effects.
- Understanding relaxin's mechanisms may unlock new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.
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