Molecular aspects of cardiac hypertrophy and their implications in cardiomyopathies
Kimura, A.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 58(1): 223-227
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 10885318 Document Number: 519544
Cardiac hypertrophy or hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes is an adaptive response of the heart against an intrinsic or extrinsic damage in cardiomyocytes. A typical intrinsic defect causing cardiac hypertrophy is the sarcomere mutations found in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and extrinsic defects include cardiac ischemia, pressure- or volume-overload, metabolic diseases and arrhythmias. The hypertrophic response is a compensatory mechanism to augments cardiac output, however, sustained hypertrophy may lead to systolic dysfunction or de-compensation state. It is well known that some patients with HCM develop to dilated-phase or burn-out phase, which resembles dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this review, molecular mechanisms underlying the cardiac hypertrophy in HCM and DCM will be discussed.