When nitroglycerin is used as a medication for chest pain and heart disease for prolonged periods, its effectiveness is often diminished.
A critical finding that was revealed by scientists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey may hold the answer to more effective treatments. Research outcomes were published recently in the prestigious international cardiovascular journal entitled Circulation Research.
Heart Attack
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Other names for heart attack include acute myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, and coronary occlusion.
Advertisement
Annie Beuve, Ph.D., associate professor of Pharmacology and Physiology, and Walter Duran, Ph.D., professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and the Department of Surgery, both of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, were collaborators on this study. Since the 19th century, nitroglycerin has been used to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow in patients who show symptoms related to cardiovascular disease. After 24 hours of continuous treatment, patients experience "nitrate tolerance." Blood vessels then become resistant to nitroglycerin rendering the treatment inefficient.
"Clinically, our discovery can help us design therapeutic strategies to overcome the loss of sensitivity to nitroglycerin, a widely prescribed treatment for cardiovascular disease. We aim to help improve the quality of life for 70 million Americans who live with heart disease," said Beuve.
![Chest Pain]( "Chest Pain")
Ask any one who has experienced intense chest pain and they will vouch for the fact that it was the most frightening experience of their life!
The reason for this insensitivity to the drug has remained a mystery for more than 100 years. Beuve and Duran's study shows nitroglycerin modifies a key molecule called soluble guanylyl cyclase, which is a fundamental mediator in the relaxation of blood vessels. They believe anti-oxidants may help prevent nitroglycerin from modifying soluble guanylyl cyclase, thereby allowing patients a longer treatment course and more efficient therapy for CVD. Other co-authors of the article, 'Nitroglycerin-Induced S-nitrosylation and desensitization of soluble guanylyl cyclase contribute to nitrate tolerance,' are: Sayed N, Kim DD, Fioramonti X, Iwahashi T, Durán WN, Beuve A.
Source: Newswise
RAS/SK
Chest Pain
Ask any one who has experienced intense chest pain and they will vouch for the fact that it was the most frightening experience of their life!
Advertisement
The reason for this insensitivity to the drug has remained a mystery for more than 100 years. Beuve and Duran's study shows nitroglycerin modifies a key molecule called soluble guanylyl cyclase, which is a fundamental mediator in the relaxation of blood vessels. They believe anti-oxidants may help prevent nitroglycerin from modifying soluble guanylyl cyclase, thereby allowing patients a longer treatment course and more efficient therapy for CVD. Other co-authors of the article, 'Nitroglycerin-Induced S-nitrosylation and desensitization of soluble guanylyl cyclase contribute to nitrate tolerance,' are: Sayed N, Kim DD, Fioramonti X, Iwahashi T, Durán WN, Beuve A.
Source: Newswise
RAS/SK
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is produced by the body (liver) and is essential for normal body functioning.
Advertisement
 Animation of heart attack symptoms - AnimationHeart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Latest Heart Disease News
Both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, a non-combustible form of tobacco exposure are associated with an increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease.
Researchers uncovered an association between heart disease and chronic kidney disease.
How to predict heart disease risk? Machine learning algorithms using indicators of oral infections may accurately predict the possibility of heart disease.
A higher risk for earlier first birth is limited by acting on traditional heart disease risk factors, such as BMI, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
A new study strengthens evidence linking low dose radiation to risk of heart diseases.