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Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Teichman, SL; Unemori, E; Dschietzig, T; Conrad, K; Voors, AA; Teerlink, JR; Felker, GM; Metra, M; Cotter, G
Published in: Heart Fail Rev
December 2009

Relaxin is a naturally occurring peptide hormone that plays a central role in the hemodynamic and renovascular adaptive changes that occur during pregnancy. Triggering similar changes could potentially be beneficial in the treatment of patients with heart failure. The effects of relaxin include the production of nitric oxide, inhibition of endothelin, inhibition of angiotensin II, production of VEGF, and production of matrix metalloproteinases. These effects lead to systemic and renal vasodilation, increased arterial compliance, and other vascular changes. The recognition of this has led to the study of relaxin for the treatment of heart failure. An initial pilot study has shown favorable hemodynamic effects in patients with heart failure, including reduction in ventricular filling pressures and increased cardiac output. The ongoing RELAX-AHF clinical program is designed to evaluate the effects of relaxin on the symptoms and outcomes in a large group of patients admitted to hospital for acute heart failure. This review will summarize both the biology of relaxin and the data supporting its potential efficacy in human heart failure.

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Published In

Heart Fail Rev

DOI

EISSN

1573-7322

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

14

Issue

4

Start / End Page

321 / 329

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Vasodilation
  • Relaxin
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Pregnancy
  • Kidney
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure
  • Female
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
 

Citation

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Teichman, S. L., Unemori, E., Dschietzig, T., Conrad, K., Voors, A. A., Teerlink, J. R., … Cotter, G. (2009). Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure. Heart Fail Rev, 14(4), 321–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-008-9129-3
Teichman, Sam L., Elaine Unemori, Thomas Dschietzig, Kirk Conrad, Adriaan A. Voors, John R. Teerlink, G Michael Felker, Marco Metra, and Gad Cotter. “Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure.Heart Fail Rev 14, no. 4 (December 2009): 321–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-008-9129-3.
Teichman SL, Unemori E, Dschietzig T, Conrad K, Voors AA, Teerlink JR, et al. Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure. Heart Fail Rev. 2009 Dec;14(4):321–9.
Teichman, Sam L., et al. “Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure.Heart Fail Rev, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 321–29. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10741-008-9129-3.
Teichman SL, Unemori E, Dschietzig T, Conrad K, Voors AA, Teerlink JR, Felker GM, Metra M, Cotter G. Relaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure. Heart Fail Rev. 2009 Dec;14(4):321–329.
Journal cover image

Published In

Heart Fail Rev

DOI

EISSN

1573-7322

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

14

Issue

4

Start / End Page

321 / 329

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Vasodilation
  • Relaxin
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Pregnancy
  • Kidney
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure
  • Female
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology