A drug used to treat lung issues in COVID-19 patients may enhance the health of those suffering from debilitating heart failure. Pirfenidone was originally developed to address breathing problems caused by the accumulation of scar tissue in the lungs, known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recently, the drug has been administered to patients with severely damaged lungs due to COVID-19.
Pirfenidone is now showing promise as a treatment for one of the most common types of heart failure, a debilitating health issue that affects millions. The medication works by inhibiting biological processes involved in the formation of heart muscle scarring.
Scans have shown that heart scarring in patients who have trialed the drug did not just stop progressing after one year of taking the medication but decreased significantly.
Heart failure means the organ can no longer pump blood effectively throughout the body, typically occurring if the heart muscle becomes too weak or stiff. Previously, one in five patients would die within a year of diagnosis, with only a third surviving for more than a decade. However, in recent years, drug developments have begun to improve outlooks for some patients.
Some of the worst symptoms are associated with high pressure in the blood vessels around the lungs, which pushes fluids into the lungs, leading to severe breathing difficulties and fatigue due to oxygen deprivation. Fluid can also accumulate in the abdomen and limbs, causing bloating and swelling, particularly in the legs.
Dr. Chris Miller from the University of Manchester and a cardiology consultant who led the study told the Daily Mail that this degree of reduction in heart scarring could translate to significant decreases in mortality rates and hospital admissions due to heart failure. Fluid retention has also improved in patients taking pirfenidone.
