Ouabain and Endogenous Ouabain -Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Cardiac Glycosides?
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research - Year 2015, Vol 8, Issue 5
Abstract
In current research reports several disease states are claimed to be associated with elevated levels of endogenous ouabain. These include hypertension, cardiac enlargement, cardiac and renal failure, and a variety of terminal disorders. It has been suggested that endogenous ouabain should be considered as a major contributor to increased blood pressure and overall cardiovascular risk. These hypotheses stand in stark contrast to decades of clinical experiences with ouabain in humans, which indicate that plant-derived ouabain is effective in treating heart failure. In patients with hypertension ouabain lowers blood pressure. These conclusive clinical experiences refute the hypothesis that ouabain in humans is a major contributor to increased blood pressure and overall cardiovascular risk. The pronounced dependence of the ouabain effects on the dose, the state of the autonomic nervous system and species-specific characteristics in pharmacokinetics may explain many of the conflicting research results that have been published on experiments with ouabain. Rodents have different sensitivities to cardiac glycosides than humans. Pharmacokinetics of cardiac glycosides in rodents are also different from humans. Therefore, caution is advised when extrapolating experimental results in rodents to humans. The mutually exclusive effects of ouabain and the endogenous inhibitor of the Na/K-ATPase observed in mammalian tissues do not support the hypothesis that this inhibitor is identical with ouabain, but favour the interpretation that De Wardener’s “third factor” is something different, which also reacts to ouabain antibodies.
Authors and Affiliations
Hauke Fürstenwerth
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP348093
- DOI 10.9734/BJMMR/2015/17042
- Views 63
- Downloads 0
Evaluation of Serum Sarcosine, Total and Free Testosterone Levels in Patients with Prostate Disorders in Sokoto, Nigeria
Although radiation and surgery are generally regarded as effective for treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) in majority of men, diagnosis and prognosis remains poor in patients with progressive disease. Disease –specific m...
A Study of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and Its Correlation with QTc Dispersion in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus
Aims: To evaluate the presence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in Type-2 Diabetes and to correlate autonomic dysfunction with QTc dispersion. Study Design: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study carried out in t...
Prescribing Guide for Baclofen in the Treatment of Alcoholism – for Use by Physicians
The purpose of this guide is to help doctors prescribe baclofen in the treatment of alcohol problems as there is, to date, no standardized way to prescribe this molecule in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The Recomm...
Retreatment Efficacy of Propoint and Guttapercha - A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis
Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate the amount of residual material after retreatment of propoint (DRFP Ltd. Stamford, UK) and gutta-percha obturated using smart paste bio sealer (DRFP Ltd. Stamford, UK), c...
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Their Relationship with Testosterone in Male Auto Mechanics in Ibadan, Nigeria
Occupational exposure to mixed chemicals generates free radicals with inadequate antioxidants resulting in oxidative stress. Recently, hypogonadism in male auto-mechanics was associated with oxidative stress. Studies sho...