Changes in Skeletal Muscle Over Time in Severe Heart Failure
The mechanisms behind heart failure are largely unknown. Despite an increasing arsenal of pharmacological therapies, cardiovascular disease is still the most common cause of death in the western world, which demonstrates a pronounced need for more patient-related mechanistic research. Cachexia and limited exercise capacity are the symptoms that best match prediction of heart failure, both of which are symptoms involving a dysfunctional skeletal muscle. An increased understanding of the mechanisms and signaling pathways connects the failure heart with skeletal muscle dysfunction is likely to lead both to discoveries of prognostic factors and possible therapeutic options. The study is a prospective, non-blinded, study. The study will consist of the assignment of patients with heart failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) III-IV, 60-80 years old. One hundred (100) patients will be enrolled in this study.
• Signed informed consent
• 60-80 years old upon inclusion
• Chronic heart failure ≥ 45 days.
• Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%.
• NYHA III-IV
• Receiving medical management with optimal doses of betablockers, acetylcholinesterase (ACE)-inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and mineral receptor antagonists (MRA) for at least 30 days if tolerated.