subject: Monitoring Protein Among Heart Failure Patients Does Little For Outcome [print this page] The results of a recent Swiss study have found that individuals who suffer from heart disease who were monitoring a protein biomarker molecule known as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were at the same risk for heart failure as those who did not monitor the protein, which was previously thought to have offered early signs of heart failure among patients, according to the study published in a January 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers found that the monitoring the protein over a 18-month period did not offer early signs of heart failure compared to patients with heart disease that did not undergo monitoring."
According to an article from HealthDay Reporter, BNP is a "protein produced by stressed heart cells, for better management of heart failure," especially among older individuals aged 60 and up, who suffer from chronic heart disease. Although the study found slight improvement was found with people between the ages of 60 to 74, the results were not considered adequate to develop a therapy to treat and prevent heart failure. Additionally, people 75 years or older did not show any signs of improvement with the symptom-guided treatment.
Heart Failure Details.
Heart failure is also known as congestive heart failure (CHF) and is medically defined as a "condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs," according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Although many reasons contribute to the onset of heart failure or CHF, the AHA has reported the following as the most common:
- infection of the heart valves.
- infection of the heart muscle.
- heart defects stemming from birth such as congenital heart defects.
- high blood pressure.
- narrowed arteries such as coronary artery disease.
- previous heart attacks or myocardial infarction.
- heart valve disease.
- cardiomyopathy.
Medical and Prescription Dangers.
An increasing number of factors can contribute to heart disease resulting in heart failure in many patients. Avandia, a type 2 diabetes medication, is another heart-failure trigger currently on the market that has been linked to serious side effects, including heart disease and heart failure onset among diabetes patients. In May 2009 GlaxoSmithKline was approved to manufacture the drug, however recent studies have link the drug to a high instance of heart disease among its patients, which has drawn a high rate of criticism.
Patients should consider switching to another type 2 diabetes medication or discontinue the drug if they have suffered from Avandia side effects not limited to heart failure or heart disease. Consulting a physician will assist a victim in overcoming these potentially dangerous Avandia risks. Furthermore, many Avandia patients who are interested in pursuing a potential Avandia class action lawsuit consider contacting an experienced Avandia attorney who can advise about the possibility of earning monetary compensation for damages incurred..
