Imatinib ameliorates fibrosis in uraemic cardiac disease in BALB/c without improving cardiac function.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It is characterized by multiple left ventricular abnormalities, referred to as 'uraemic cardiomyopathy'. The aim of the study was to investigate uraemic cardiac disease in a mouse model of chronic renal failure induced by subtotal nephrectomy and to evaluate the impact of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib and its antifibrotic as well as functional properties on the extent of the disease.