More than six million people in the United States have heart failure. Some patients get mechanical pumps called LVADs to reduce strain and let the heart rest. But only some patients show clear recovery after LVAD support.
In a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers including Junco Warren and Stavros Drakos studied tissue from the left ventricular apex of 19 patients. They compared samples taken before LVAD implantation and later, at device removal or transplant.
Before treatment, PERM1 levels were low in all patients. After LVAD support, PERM1 returned to near-normal only in patients whose hearts recovered, while it stayed low in others. This change was linked to better heart energy use.
Difficult words
- heart failure — a long-term condition when the heart is weak
- mechanical pump — a machine that helps the heart pumpmechanical pumps
- tissue — body material made of cells
- apex — the top or tip of an organ
- recovery — getting better after illness or injury
- device removal — taking a medical machine out of body
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think is good about letting the heart rest with a mechanical pump?
- Would you be worried if a family member needed a transplant or device removal? Why or why not?
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