Myocardial Tissue Characterization in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: From Histopathology and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Findings to Therapeutic Targets

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 14; p. 7650
• Main Authors: Severino, Paolo, D’Amato, Andrea, Prosperi, Silvia, Fanisio, Francesca, Birtolo, Lucia Ilaria, Costi, Bettina, Netti, Lucrezia, Chimenti, Cristina, Lavalle, Carlo, Maestrini, Viviana, Mancone, Massimo, Fedele, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 17.07.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Biopsy; Cardiac arrhythmia; cardiac magnetic resonance; Cardiomyocytes; Cardiovascular diseases; Collagen; Congestive heart failure; Economic impact; Ejection fraction; endomyocardial biopsy; Extracellular matrix; Fibrosis; Heart attacks; Heart failure; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; Hypertrophy; Impact analysis; Inflammation; Microvasculature; Morbidity; Mortality; myocardial tissue characterization; Oxidative stress; Pathophysiology; Patients; Pulmonary hypertension; Review; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Risk management; therapy
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147650

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex clinical syndrome responsible for high mortality and morbidity rates. It has an ever growing social and economic impact and a deeper knowledge of molecular and pathophysiological basis is essential for the ideal management of HFpEF patients. The association between HFpEF and traditional cardiovascular risk factors is known. However, myocardial alterations, as well as pathophysiological mechanisms involved are not completely defined. Under the definition of HFpEF there is a wide spectrum of different myocardial structural alterations. Myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, coronary microvascular dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation are only some of the main pathological detectable processes. Furthermore, there is a lack of effective pharmacological targets to improve HFpEF patients’ outcomes and risk factors control is the primary and unique approach to treat those patients. Myocardial tissue characterization, through invasive and non-invasive techniques, such as endomyocardial biopsy and cardiac magnetic resonance respectively, may represent the starting point to understand the genetic, molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this complex syndrome. The correlation between histopathological findings and imaging aspects may be the future challenge for the earlier and large-scale HFpEF diagnosis, in order to plan a specific and effective treatment able to modify the disease’s natural course.