Targeting Potassium Channels: New Advances in Cardiovascular Therapy

Authors: Martinez-Marmol, Ramon; Roura-Ferrer, Meritxell; Felipe, Antonio

Source: Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery, Volume 3, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 105-118(14)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Potassium channels, which are essential to a wide range of physiological processes, are involved in many diseases. Thus, alterations in such important proteins due to congenital deficiencies or to undesirable side-effects of common medications might lead to dysfunctions. Heart is one of those tissues where potassium channels play a crucial role. The maintenance of cardiac action potential appears to be the consequence of the varied activity of several types of potassium channels. Recently, compounds that modify cardiac potassium channel activity and so alter action potential duration have been developed as new anti-arrhythmic agents. However, several cardiomyopathies appear as undesirable side-effects of the use of drugs that directly or indirectly act on the same potassium channels. Thus, new patents have been created allowing the prediction of the inherited predisposition to any known potassium-linked cardiac channelopathy.

Keywords: Potassium channels; cardiovascular therapy; channelopathy; long QT syndrome; arrithmiogenesis; heart diseases

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157489008784705386

Publication date: 2008-06-01

More about this publication?

Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery publishes review articles on recent patents in the field of cardiovascular drug discovery e.g. novel bioactive compounds, analogs & targets. A selection of important and recent patents on cardiovascular drug discovery is also included in the journal. The journal is essential reading for all researchers involved in cardiovascular drug design and discovery.