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Rachel V Thomas

UK Scientists Begin Drug Trial To Mend Broken Heart Syndrome

For 57-year-old Brenda Young, her mother’s death last year caused an ‘intense, overwhelming pain in the middle of the chest’, so severe that she required hospital admission.

While her symptoms felt like a <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/heart-attack">heart attack</a>, the Scottish woman was diagnosed with ‘broken heart syndrome’.

Also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it is a sudden condition estimated to affect at least 5000 people in the UK each year.

Now she is part of a groundbreaking trial by a team of scientists in the UK to gauge a medication for the long-term management of the condition.

As the name suggests, the fatal condition is triggered by sudden emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one. While it is often mistaken for a heart attack, it mimics a heart attack, causing sudden chest pain, breathlessness, and weakened heart muscles.

However, unlike heart attacks, it is not caused by a blockage in the heart arteries but instead, a severe weakening of the heart muscle.

There is currently no proven treatment for takotsubo, which means treatments can vary from person to person. We know that following an attack, the impact on the patient’s quality of life can be extremely debilitating.

<h2>Broken Heart Syndrome: 7-Year Study To Test Drug</h2>

Also read:<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/kim-kardashian-says-she-takes-35-supplements-daily-suffers-from-pill-fatigue-article-154357934" data-type="tilCustomLink">Kim Kardashian Says She Takes 35 Supplements Daily, Suffers From 'Pill Fatigue'</a>

The seven-year-long study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will involve scientists and clinicians from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Belfast, and almost 1,000 takotsubo patients from 40 hospitals across the country.

“Takotsubo syndrome affects thousands of people in the UK year on year – most of whom are women. The figures are stark in that one in ten will ultimately die from their condition. It is a growing problem, and with ever-improving clinical recognition, the diagnosis rate has increased 5-fold in the past decade,” said Dana Dawson, Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, who is leading the trial.

The long-term risk of death or serious health problems after a takotsubo attack is similar to that of patients who have had a heart attack. In those who survive the first attack, patients live with a higher risk of death, heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, as well as a higher risk of repeated takotsubo attacks.

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It has been suggested that a class of medicines that relax blood vessels, called 'renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors', could be an effective course of treatment in the longer term for takotsubo patients.

Currently used to treat heart attacks due to heart artery blockage, high blood pressure, or heart failure, this study will scientifically test the effectiveness of RAS inhibitors in takotsubo to establish if this could be a treatment pathway specific to the condition.

“We will test, for the first time, if RAS inhibitors could prevent deaths, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and repeated takotsubo attacks in people who have suffered an acute takotsubo attack,” Professor Dana said.

“We hope that this will make it clear whether or not these drugs are effective at preventing repeated health problems in the long-term,” the expert said.

With the trial, the researchers aim to find the first therapy that improves survival and reduces the burden of disease after a takotsubo attack, or it may help redirect the search to other treatments that may work.

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For 57-year-old Brenda Young, her mother’s death last year caused an ‘intense, overwhelming pain in the middle of the chest’, so severe that she required hospital admission.While her symptoms felt like a heart attack, the Scottish woman was diagnosed with ‘broken heart syndrome’.Also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it is a sudden condition estimated to affect at least 5000 people in the UK each year.Now she is part of a groundbreaking trial by a team of scientists in the UK to gauge a medication for the long-term management of the condition.What Is Broken Heart Syndrome?As the name suggests, the fatal condition is triggered by sudden emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one. While it is often mistaken for a heart attack, it mimics a heart attack, causing sudden chest pain, breathlessness, and weakened heart muscles.However, unlike heart attacks, it is not caused by a blockage in the heart arteries but instead, a severe weakening of the heart muscle.There is currently no proven treatment for takotsubo, which means treatments can vary from person to person. We know that following an attack, the impact on the patient’s quality of life can be extremely debilitating.Broken Heart Syndrome: 7-Year Study To Test DrugAlso read:Kim Kardashian Says She Takes 35 Supplements Daily, Suffers From 'Pill Fatigue'The seven-year-long study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will involve scientists and clinicians from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Belfast, and almost 1,000 takotsubo patients from 40 hospitals across the country.“Takotsubo syndrome affects thousands of people in the UK year on year – most of whom are women. The figures are stark in that one in ten will ultimately die from their condition. It is a growing problem, and with ever-improving clinical recognition, the diagnosis rate has increased 5-fold in the past decade,” said Dana Dawson, Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, who is leading the trial.The long-term risk of death or serious health problems after a takotsubo attack is similar to that of patients who have had a heart attack. In those who survive the first attack, patients live with a higher risk of death, heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, as well as a higher risk of repeated takotsubo attacks.What Is The Trial Drug?      It has been suggested that a class of medicines that relax blood vessels, called 'renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors', could be an effective course of treatment in the longer term for takotsubo patients.Currently used to treat heart attacks due to heart artery blockage, high blood pressure, or heart failure, this study will scientifically test the effectiveness of RAS inhibitors in takotsubo to establish if this could be a treatment pathway specific to the condition.“We will test, for the first time, if RAS inhibitors could prevent deaths, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and repeated takotsubo attacks in people who have suffered an acute takotsubo attack,” Professor Dana said.“We hope that this will make it clear whether or not these drugs are effective at preventing repeated health problems in the long-term,” the expert said.With the trial, the researchers aim to find the first therapy that improves survival and reduces the burden of disease after a takotsubo attack, or it may help redirect the search to other treatments that may work.

uk scientists begin drug trial to mend broken heart syndrome

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