PGC-1, Purines and the Postmenopausal Heart
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Summary
There is an increased risk of diastolic heart failure in post menopausal women. Estrogen plays a positive role in regulating molecular pathways in heart remodeling. Such pathways may work through purinergic signaling and its downstream effects on the heart's mitochondrial metabolism and angiogenic response to stress. Loss of estrogen functionality in post menopausal women may account for the increased risk of diastolic heart failure. The investigators will explore said pathways using cardiac tissue obtained from patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Description
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death of women in the United States, accounting for around 1 of every 3 deaths. Estrogen deficiency, as seen in aging women or after oophorectomy, has been linked to loss of cardiovascular protection, typically seen during reproductive life. Up to half of women evaluated for myocardial ischemia have normal appearing coronary arteries. These women can develop heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (termed HFpEF) for which the etiology is unclear. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause remains controversial but current ev…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 30–88 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Exclusion Criteria: * Refusal to participate * Emergency surgery * Pre-existing heart block * Preexisting atrial fibrillation * Redo surgery * Estrogen or hormone replacement therapy * History of chronic heart failure * History of major kidney disease
Interventions
- OtherGender
Differences between men and women will be observed
Location
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts