ACE inhibition to slow progression of myocardial fibrosis in muscular dystrophies

Muscular dystrophy (MD) connotes a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders affecting skeletal and cardiac muscle. MD is typically caused by a mutation in a single gene that affects striated muscle (cardiac, skeletal), leading to progressive wasting and weakness. In several forms of MD, cardiac dysfunction occurs, and cardiac disease may even be the predominant manifestation of the underlying genetic myopathy [1]. The cardiac involvement is due to progressive interstitial fibrosis and fatty replacement in both the atria and ventricles, which may lead to cardiomyopathy, conduction defects and tachyarrhythmias [2].

Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - December 21, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Vincenzo Russo, Andrea Antonio Papa, Emmanuel Ato Williams, Anna Rago, Alberto Palladino, Luisa Politano, Gerardo Nigro Source Type: research