Cardiac unloading by LVAD support differentially influences components of the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway in ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as bridge to transplant in end-stage heart failure allows for analyzing reverse remodeling processes of the supported heart. Whether this therapy influences the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, which is currently under thorough investigation for developing new heart failure therapeutics, is unknown. In fourteen end-stage heart failure patients (8 with dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM; 6 with ischemic cardiomyopathy, ICM) tissue specimens of left ventricles were collected at LVAD implantation and afterwards at receiver heart explantation, respectively.