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The Possible Pathogenic Role of Autoantibodies in Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

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The Role of Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Disease

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Abstract

A chronic β-adrenergic overdrive in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been postulated to be one of the pathogenic features of this disease (Thomas and Marks 1978; Swedberg et al. 1979; Cohn et al. 1984). The marked levation of the plasma norepinephrine level in patients with heart failure may have a number of consequences such as (a) a catecholamine-triggered alteration of the β-adrenergic reaction cascade represented by a desensitization of the β1-adrenoceptor (Bristow, 1982, 1984; Brodde 1991; Steinfahrt et al. 1991; Ungerer et al. 1993), (b) an inhibition of the adenylate cyclase by over-expression of the Giα protein (Böhm et al. 1990), and (c) a reduction in the inotropic responsiveness of the heart (Bristow 1993). These changes, induced specifically by β1 -adrenergic agonism, might play a role in the pathogenesis of DCM. This idea is supported by the finding that the use of β1-adrenergic antagonists may be helpful in the treatment of DCM (Waagstein et al. 1975, 1993). Treatment of a weakened heart using β-blocking agents, a seemingly paradoxical therapy, leads to an improvement in the function of the heart and] to a reduction in mortality of the patients (Swedberg et al. 1979).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    G. Wallukat, H.-P. Luther & A. Wollenberger

  2. German Heart Centre, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    J. Müller

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  1. G. Wallukat
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  2. H.-P. Luther
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  3. J. Müller
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  4. A. Wollenberger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Kardiologie/Pulmologie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin der Freien Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Heinz-Peter Schultheiss  & Peter Schwimmbeck  & 

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Wallukat, G., Luther, HP., Müller, J., Wollenberger, A. (1997). The Possible Pathogenic Role of Autoantibodies in Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy. In: Schultheiss, HP., Schwimmbeck, P. (eds) The Role of Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60463-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60463-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61358-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60463-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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