Drug Found to Fight Marfan (Australia)
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Researchers at the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, have discovered an existing drug that may be helpful for treating Marfan syndrome. The drug, called perindopril, works to reduce the fragility of the aorta. Aortic rupture is the leading cause of death in people with Marfan, which is a genetic condition that causes imperfections in the connective tissues of the body's skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Up until now, most patients with Marfan had to take beta-blockers to slow their heart rate in an attempt to prevent stress on the aorta. But these drugs do nothing to strengthen the aorta and Marfan sufferers often have to undergo multiple heart surgeries, which are both expensive and risky. Scientists say using perindopril will cut down on the need for those surgeries, increasing the quality of life for those with the disease. (Click here for more