Testosterone: a natural tonic for the failing heart?

摘要

Patients with chronic heart failure suffer consider- able morbidity as well as early mortality. They exhibit altered structure and function of cardiac and skeletal muscle and excessive activation of cata- bolic hormones and inflammatory cytokines. Men with CHF have relatively low androgen levels, which may contribute to the pathophysiological process. Androgen replacement therapy could potentially Ameliorate symptoms by improving cardiac and Vascular function and increasing strength and Endurance.