ACE inhibition to slow progression of myocardial fibrosis in muscular dystrophies

Muscular dystrophy (MD) connotes a heterogeneous group of inherited disordersaffecting skeletal and cardiac muscle. Inseveral forms of MD, the cardiac disease may be the predominant manifestationof the underlying genetic myopathy. The cardiacinvolvement is due to progressive interstitial fibrosis and fatty replacement inboth the atria and ventricles, which may lead to cardiomyopathy, conductiondefects and tachyarrhythmias. Angiotensin-convertingenzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) modulate the production of angiotensin II and limitthe amount of fibrosis in the myocardium, reducing mortality andhospitalization in cardiac patients.
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research