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The University of Arizona Sarver Heart
Center has a major interest in congestive heart failure, as indeed it
should. Congestive heart failure is the most common hospital discharge
diagnosis of patients older than 65, and as such is one of the most
important diseases to be addressed in the new millennium.
Much of the scientific work in this area involves
animal models of heart failure after myocardial infarction. Work with
these models includes measuring changes in blood chemistry during heart
failure and alterations in resistance of arteries. Studies also include
changes in how the heart returns to its relaxed position after it contracts,
studying the effects of drugs on venous and arterial circulation in
heart failure and the role of flexibility of arteries in subjects with
congestive heart failure.
Several Sarver Heart Center members are involved
in clinical research in congestive heart failure. Drugs that show promise
in pre-clinical trials have to be rigorously tested in patients prior
to routine clinical use.
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