Effect of Urocortins in Patients With Heart Failure
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Despite modern advances in treatment, heart failure continues to carry a poor prognosis with
high morbidity and mortality rates. Hence, there remains a major interest in the development
of novel therapeutic agents for this debilitating condition. Urocortins have recently shot
into limelight with their potential role in the pathophysiology and treatment of heart
failure.
Recent studies by the investigators group (REC no: 09/S1103/41) have confirmed that Urocortin
2 and 3 are potent arterial vasodilators, the effects of which are reproducible and well
tolerated in healthy male volunteers. Previous studies using heart failure models in
animals1-7, as well studies in heart failure patients (Urocortin 2), suggest that there is
great scope for Urocortins as novel biomarkers and as potential therapeutic agents in heart
failure. With this in mind, the investigators wish to study the local vasomotor effects of
these peptides in greater detail in patients with heart failure.