Heart Disease In The News

New class of drugs for heart failure
February 21, 2001

In the February 20 edition of Circulation, investigators report on 2 studies looking at the effect of a new class of drugs - the endothelin blockers - in patients with heart failure.  Endothelin is a naturally occurring substance that increases the "stiffness" of blood vessels.  The stiff blood vessels increase the resistance against which the failing heart must work in order to pump blood.  By reducing blood-vessel stiffness, endothelin blockers can reduce the work load of the failing heart, and improve the ability of the heart to pump.

In the two studies reported, one intravenous and one oral endothelin blocker were tested.  In each case, the drugs appeared to have a beneficial effect on the failing heart.

There are no FDA approved endothelin blockers available yet, but several are undergoing testing.  Most cardiologists believe that endothelin blockers will provide a significant new weapon against heart failure. 

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