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Current Heart Failure Reports
Published in: Current Heart Failure Reports 1/2015

01-02-2015 | Pharmacologic Therapy (WHW Tang, Section Editor)

Incretin-Related Drug Therapy in Heart Failure

Author: Amanda R. Vest

Published in: Current Heart Failure Reports | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

The new pharmacological classes of GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors are now widely used in diabetes and have been postulated as beneficial in heart failure. These proposed benefits arise from the inter-related pathophysiologies of diabetes and heart failure (diabetes increases the risk of heart failure, and heart failure can induce insulin resistance) and also in light of the dysfunctional myocardial energetics seen in heart failure. The normal heart utilizes predominantly fatty acids for energy production, but there is some evidence to suggest that increased myocardial glucose uptake may be beneficial for the failing heart. Thus, GLP-1 agonists, which stimulate glucose-dependent insulin release and enhance myocardial glucose uptake, have become a focus of investigation in both animal models and humans with heart failure. Limited pilot data for GLP-1 agonists shows potential improvements in systolic function, hemodynamics, and quality of life, forming the basis for current phase II trials.
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Metadata
Title
Incretin-Related Drug Therapy in Heart Failure
Author
Amanda R. Vest
Publication date
01-02-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Heart Failure Reports / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1546-9530
Electronic ISSN: 1546-9549
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-014-0232-6

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