Publicaciones científicas

Microvascular and lymphatic dysfunction in HFpEF and its associated comorbidities

25-may-2020 | Revista: Basic Research in Cardiology

Ilona Cuijpers, Steven J Simmonds, Marc van Bilsen, Elżbieta Czarnowska, Arantxa González Miqueo, Stephane Heymans, Annika R Kuhn, Paul Mulder, Anna Ratajska, Elizabeth A V Jones, Ebba Brakenhielm


Abstract

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex heterogeneous disease for which our pathophysiological understanding is still limited and specific prevention and treatment strategies are lacking. HFpEF is characterised by diastolic dysfunction and cardiac remodelling (fibrosis, inflammation, and hypertrophy). Recently, microvascular dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammation have been proposed to participate in HFpEF development. Furthermore, several recent studies demonstrated the occurrence of generalized lymphatic dysfunction in experimental models of risk factors for HFpEF, including obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and aging.

Here, we review the evidence for a combined role of coronary (micro)vascular dysfunction and lymphatic vessel alterations in mediating key pathological steps in HFpEF, including reduced cardiac perfusion, chronic low-grade inflammation, and myocardial oedema, and their impact on cardiac metabolic alterations (oxygen and nutrient supply/demand imbalance), fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte stiffness. We focus primarily on HFpEF caused by metabolic risk factors, such as obesity, T2DM, hypertension, and aging.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO Basic Res Cardiol. 2020 May 25;115(4):39. doi: 10.1007/s00395-020-0798-y.