Targeting 'microtubules' could prevent heart failure-Rachel Sokol
Researchers publish a study in the journal Nature Medicine that determined the cause of "stiff heart." The findings could help to prevent future cases of heart failure. Microtubules (depicted here) may be key to the future treatment of heart failure. One of the most common causes of congestive heart failure is "stiff heart syndrome." According to Dr. Jerry Sokol — a cardiologist in Deer Park, NY — this causes fluid to build up and back up into the lungs. This occurs "usually in patients older than age 60," he says. At the microcellular level, they revealed that stiff heart appears to be related to microtubules in the cells of the heart muscle. By treating these microtubules with newly developed research and medications, cardiac surgeons will soon be able to more effectively treat patients with this type of congestive heart failure. The new study was led by Dr. Ben Prosser — an assistant professor of physiology in the ...
