title: Hormone replacement therapy in heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite major advances in medical treatments, survival rates of chronic heart failure (CHF) have not significantly changed in the past 50 years, making it imperative to search for novel pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic targets. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the possibility to treat such anabolic deficiencies with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mounting evidence supports the concept that CHF is a disease characterized not only by excessive neurohormonal activation but also by a reduced anabolic drive that carries functional and prognostic significance. The recent demonstration of overall beneficial effects of HRT in CHF may pave the way to slow the disease progression in patients with coexisting CHF and hormone deficiencies. The hypothesis is to identify a considerable subset of CHF patients also affected with hormone deficiency and to treat them with HRT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single or multiple HRT may in theory be performed in CHF. Such a novel approach may improve left ventricular architecture, function, and physical capacity as well as quality of life. Larger randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm this working hypothesis.
authors: aDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato Milanese, Milan bDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University cInterdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (CRIB), University of Naples, Naples, Italy dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Göthenborg, Göthenborg, Sweden *Jorgen Isgaard and Antonio Cittadini contributed equally to the writing of this article.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Arcopinto
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Salzano
authors: Jorgen
authors: J
authors: Isgaard
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Cittadini
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000819:agonists; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D013974:Thyroxine