Aldosteronism in Heart Failure: A Proinflammatory / Fibrogenic Cardiac Phenotype. Search for Biomarkers and Potential Drug Targets

Heart failure is a major health problem of epidemic proportions. Irrespective of its etiologic origins, a dysfunction of this normally efficient muscular pump is associated with systemic consequences, a progressive downhill clinical course and poor prognosis. Ventricular dysfunction is ultimately accompanied by neurohormonal system activation that accounts for: the congestive heart failure syndrome; an induction of oxi/nitrosative stress; adverse vascular remodeling; and activation of the immune system that contributes to a wasting syndrome known as cardiac cachexia. Circulating effector hormones of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are an integral feature of this neurohormonal activation; they have systemic consequences. Insights into the pathophysiology of heart failure will identify improved methods of prevention, including biomarkers to aid in its detection and identification of risk,…