Journal of the American College of Cardiology, one of the most important cardiology journals in the world, highlights for the second consecutive year the importance of a research from the University of Navarra that has identified a diagnostic marker to prevent heart failure.

The first phase of this study, which is being carried out at the research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA) of the University of Navarra, the Hospital Universitario Donostia and the Policlínica de Guipúzcoa, involved 39 hypertensive patients. In the second phase, which will begin this year, the number of volunteers will be significantly increased at issue . "In analyzing these cases, we have found a mechanism that is involved in the deterioration of the heart's systolic function. That is, its ability to pump blood," explains Dr. Javier Díez, director of the area of Cardiovascular Sciences at CIMA.

According to the specialist, this harmful process consists of the excessive activation of an enzyme in the heart, metalloproteinase-1, "which causes the destruction of the scaffolding in which the cardiac cells are inserted, preventing their ability to contract properly".          

guide to protect the heart

Thanks to the recognition of this enzyme, whose presence can be measured in blood, "it will be possible to diagnose cardiac problems and carry out a guide to establish treatments that deactivate the molecule and protect the heart during systole," says the director of the research. This would prevent hypertensive patients from suffering heart failure, which, as the expert reminds us, "is one of the five leading causes of death in Spain, especially among women.

In addition to Javier Díez, Ramón Querejeta, Mariano Larman and the scientists Begoña López and Arantxa González from the University of Navarra have participated in this project . During its development, the results have been awarded by the Spanish Society of Cardiology and published in journals such as Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine, from group Nature.