MedWire News: People with a potentially fatal heart condition called cardiac hypertrophy can stop it from worsening by boosting their levels of a naturally occurring protein, study results suggest.

“This is a significant discovery because whilst the symptoms can be managed, the cause of heart hypertrophy cannot yet be treated. This research provides a first step in the search for a possible treatment,” said lead researcher Dr Lezanne Ooi , from the University of Leeds in the UK.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, and is caused by high blood pressure or a person’s genes. The condition affects around one in 500 people and can lead to heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms or sudden death.

Some people with cardiac hypertrophy suffer from breathlessness, fatigue and chest pain, while others do not have any symptoms. It is the most common cause of sudden heart death among athletes, as affected hearts are not able to cope with the stress of intense physical activity.

The hearts of babies and young children have naturally high levels of two proteins called ANP and BNP, which normally decrease as they age. However, in the hearts of adults with cardiac hypertrophy, levels of these proteins continue to rise.

Dr Ooi and team found that boosting levels of a third protein, called REST, could halt the increase in ANP and BNP, and stop the condition from worsening.

The researchers say the finding offers hope for treating the cause of cardiac hypertrophy, rather than just its symptoms.

“The challenge is now to find a therapy that controls the source of the problem on an ongoing basis. If a way can now be found to translate this research into a therapeutic application, our findings will have an enormous impact on individuals suffering from the condition,” concluded Dr Ooi.