Effects of aldosterone antagonism in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a cardiac MRI, exercise physiology and quality of life pilot study
Understanding different types of heart failure and testing new drugs could reveal new treatment options for these patients, and help them feel better and live longer. Between a third and a half of people with heart failure have 'Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction', or HF-PEF. HF-PEF is caused by a stiff heart that is unable to relax properly because of excess scar tissue. People with HF-PEF experience breathlessness and fluid retention, and compared with other forms of heart failure, we know very little about how to treat it. Professor Sven Plein and colleagues, including BHF Professor Mark Kearney, want to understand more about a treatment that might help people with HF-PEF. Some researchers have shown that spironolactone, a medicine used in the treatment of weak hearts, can help the heart relax. This grant will test spironolactone in patients with HF-PEF for six months and investigate how it helps the heart relax, using a type of heart scan called MRI. They will also look for changes in the degree of scarring of heart tissue and assess if the drug can improve quality of life. The results may pave the way for larger trials in the future, which might reveal a new way to treat people with this condition.
Project details
| Grant amount | £187,114 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 May 2014 |
| Duration | 1 year, 6 months |
| Reference | PG/14/10/30641 |
| Status | Complete |
