Chronic heart failure is known to develop over time, with experts finding that the primary causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and high blood pressure. Now, new research has found that iron promotes fatty tissue formation within the heart, causing chronic heart failure among roughly 50% of heart attack survivors.
This study was carried out by researchers at the School of Medicine inIndiana University, led by Dr. Rohan Dharmakumar. Dharmakumar is the associate director in charge of research at the IU Cardiovascular Institute, which is a joint venture between IU Health and IU School of Medicine. He is also the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center’s executive director at the institution.
This research, which cost millions of dollars, involved teams from various institutions in Canada and the United States, and followed animal models for a six-month period. The researchers discovered that fat gradually replaces scar tissue in heart attacks, which cause bleeding in the heart muscles. Fatty tissue cannot pump blood effectively from one’s heart, which causes heart failure and, over time, death in most hemorrhagic heart attack survivors.
Dharmakumar stated that researchers had, for the first time, been able to identify the principal cause of chronic heart failure after a patient suffered a heart attack. Through the use of noninvasive histology, imaging and molecular biology methods among other technologies, the researchers had demonstrated that iron traceable to red blood cells drove the formation of fatty tissue in the heart muscle.
The doctor explained that when the iron was removed, the quantity of fat within the heart muscles reduced, noting that this discovery created a pathway through which clinical investigations aimed at treating or alleviating the effects linked to iron in patients with hemorrhagic myocardial infarctions.
The study’s findings lay the foundation for therapies with the potential to prevent heart failure in almost half a million individuals in America and millions more globally.
The Cardiovascular Institute’s physician director, Dr. SubhaV. Raman, explained that while advancements had made it possible for most individuals to survive after a heart attack, many survivors still suffered complications such as heart failure in the long term. Raman added that Dharmakumar’s breakthrough shed light on who was at risk and why they were at risk as well as suggested an effective way to avoid these complications.
She then noted that it was exciting to see such therapy improve the lives of millions of survivors of heart attacks globally.
The researcher’s findings were reported in the “Nature Communications” journal.
Other teams, such as those at Odyssey Health inc. (OTC: ODYY), are also exploring how heart attacks and other forms of heart disease can be easily detected without resorting to invasive methods, and as they bring their products to market, the long-term complications of heart attacks could be reduced once patients start receiving treatment early.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Odyssey Health Inc. (OTC: ODYY) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ODYY
About BioMedWire
BioMedWire (BMW) is a bio-med news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to millions of social media followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with BMW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, BMW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, BMW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. BMW is where news, content and information converge.
To receive SMS text alerts from BioMedWire, text “Biotech” to 844-397-5787 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.BioMedWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: http://BMW.fm/Disclaimer
BioMedWire (BMW)
San Francisco, California
www.BioMedWire.com
415.949.5050 Office
Editor@BioMedWire.com
BioMedWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.