Conditioned skeletal muscle: new assist for failing heart?

摘要: Each year, an estimated 10,000 patients experience irreversible congestive heart failure secondary to myocardial fibrosis. All of the available therapies— digitalis and afterload reduction agents, transplants, mechanical assist devices—have shortcomings. Now, investigators in United States Europe have developed modified skeletal muscles that they believe may eventually provide a fourth therapeutic alternative. The approach involves electrically conditioning muscle develop fatigue resistance, then using it as autogenous grafts or ventricular pumps augment aortic diastolic pressure. Proponents contend this will circumvent rejection problems reduce risk cost surgery. Skeletal already been tried clinically country France. American surgeon, George J. Magovern, MD, chief surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, says his patient could lived without graft, but has improved her quality life. He cautions