Spironolactone improves lung diffusion in chronic heart failure

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Abstract
Aims To evaluate whether anti-aldosteronic treatment influences lung diffusion (DLCO) in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Spironolactone improves clinical conditions and prognosis in chronic HF and reduces connective tissue matrix turnover; DLCO abnormalities in chronic HF are related to increase in fibrosis and connective tissue derangement. Methods and results Thirty stable chronic HF patients, with reduced DLCO (2 16.8±1.9 vs.18.6±2.2 mL/min/kg). Increments of DLCO and peak VO2 were linearly related (R=0.849, PConclusion These data show a positive effect of spironolactone on gas diffusion and exercise capacity suggesting a novel mechanism by which anti-aldosteronic drugs improve HF clinical condition and prognosis.