title: A new potential approach to inotropic therapy in the treatment of heart failure: urocortin.
abstract: Urocortins (UCNs), peptides that belong to the corticotrophin-releasing hormone family, represent a novel group of inotropic agents that have a multifaceted effect on the body with significant effects on the cardiovascular, hemodynamic, neurohormonal, and renal systems. UCNs can potentially improve the overall picture of heart failure by targeting not only the cardiovascular and hemodynamic systems like many current inotropic agents but also other systemic tissues that contribute significantly to the mortality and morbidity of heart failure. The 3 types of UCNs (1, 2, and 3) have been shown in preclinical studies to be effective in improving cardiovascular, neurohormonal, and renal function. UCN 2 has been shown in clinical studies to induce significant cardiovascular benefit with limited systemic effects. UCNs, specifically UCNs 2 and 3, show great potential as additional treatment in the management of systolic heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Vinisha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Frishman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012756:Sheep; D054832:Urocortins / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; C426704:UCN3 protein, human; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone