Protease-antiprotease imbalance in the progression of chronic heart failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with arterial hypertension

Abstract

The aim – to investigate the changes of protease-antiprotease system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in combination with arterial hypertension (AH) while progression of chronic heart failure (HF). Conclusions. The progression of HF in patients with AH and COPD is accompanied by the decrease of the proteolysis inhibitor α2-macroglobulin along with high activity of connective tissue degradation processes as observed by increased matrix metalloprotease 9. The observed protease-antiprotease imbalance in patients with AH and COPD causes the changes in extracellular matrix proteins metabolism, resulting in myocardial remodeling, that underlies the pathogenesis of HF.