Breakthrough in the treatment of heart attacks?

In Tests of an experimental drug, reduced a new drug, the heart damage after a heart attack by up to 60 percent. Doctors hope that a future application can improve the survival rate of people after a heart attack significantly.

The research team of Imperial College London and the internationally recognised University of Oxford, found in their recent study, that a new experimental drug heart can reduce damage to a Herzinfakrt. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal “Cell Stem Cell”.

Will be the new medicine in the year 2021 already available?

The new drug can block the harmful chemical signals that occur when the blood supply to the heart is interrupted. In such a case, the lack of oxygen that sets free the chemicals, the can sections to the death of the Tissue and lead to heart failure, seizures, the risk of a further heart attack or stroke is further increased. The experts hope the experimental drug will have completed all the necessary safety tests and patient trials up to the year 2021, to revolutionize the care after heart attacks. The search for a drug that will limit the damage to the heart muscle during and after a heart attack, and congestive heart failure could stop, since decades, an important research target, scientists say. But despite a number of promising candidates in the past, the promise there is still no medication which in clinical practice can. The drug should act in such a way as to hope the medical profession, it will represent a true Revolution in the treatment of heart attacks.

What is heart failure?

The new drug works by targeting a Protein called MAP4K4, which scientists have classified in the study of people with heart failure are particularly important. Congestive heart failure means that the heart can’t pump blood properly through the body, it is often because the muscle has become too weak or too stiff. A heart failure does not mean that the heart has completely stopped. Congestive heart failure can occur at any age, but in older people the most. Heart failure is a long-term disease that worsens with time, gradually. The disease can usually be completely cured, but the symptoms can often be years of well controlled.

What indicates heart failure?

These symptoms suggest heart failure: shortness of breath after activity, shortness of breath at rest, frequent fatigue, and swollen ankles and legs. In some people other symptoms, such as persistent cough, a rapid heart rate and dizziness. The symptoms can develop over a period of weeks or months quickly or only gradually. You must contact your GP if the symptoms of heart failure persist or gradually worsen, advise the doctors.

Damage after heart attack could be reduced by two-thirds

The researchers have found that MAP4K4 is activated after a heart attack in the tissues of mice and humans, and then the heart and other body tissue irreparable harm. By blocking its activity in human tissue in a laboratory-produced heart attack, the Team was able to reduce the damage by almost two thirds.

The effects of a heart attack

If someone has a heart attack, it will interrupt the blood supply to the organ or reduced, whereby there is a lack of oxygen. This lack of oxygen triggers chemical stress signals, which can then lead to the death of the cells. If the death of cells in Parts of the heart, the muscle is weaker and is less able to pump blood through the body. If the Patient survived the infarction, this has life-long effects on health. (as)