Could Entresto protect against heart valve disease?

Role of the Angiotensin II and Natriuretic Peptides in Aortic Valve Disease

Researchers are searching for a non-surgical way to treat stiffened heart valves. The one-way flow of blood around the heart is maintained by valves. These flaps of tissue are pushed open by blood flowing in the correct direction, and snap shut to stop it leaking back. But heart valves can stiffen, making the heart work harder to pump the blood through. This leads to heart failure. There are no medicines to stop or reverse heart valve disease, only surgery to replace the affected valve. Dr Chester, together with Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, are searching for a way to treat diseased heart valves without surgery. They will investigate the potential of an existing medicine – Entresto – to treat the condition. This medicine inhibits a molecule they believe to cause heart valve disease, while promoting the activity of a molecule they believe to protect against it. By studying these molecules’ roles in heart valve disease in greater detail, and the impact of the medicine upon them, the research team hope to pave the way for further work. The evidence they collect could help in identifying therapeutic targets that could be used for the treatment of heart valve disease, and potentially a non-surgical solution for this condition. Notes: involves human tissue [and mice]