Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: present status and future directions

Abstract

Cardiology: Reviewing a heart disease that hides The condition known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), in which the fraction of blood pumped from the heart by each heartbeat remains near normal is an increasing cause of illness and death. Available treatments are unsatisfactory. Heart functions also appears normal or near normal in echocardiography imaging, but patients suffer some typical symptoms of heart failure including shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, and reduced ability to exercise. Gwang Hyeon Eom and Somy Yoon at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea, review understanding of the causes and clinical features of HFpEF, and the development of animal models to aid research into the condition. Studies in rodents are revealing molecular level cellular changes that may be involved in causing HFpEF. The insights gained will hopefully lead to more effective treatments.