Muscle oxygen transport and utilization in heart failure

A well-known problem for heart failure patients is the inability, or markedly decreased ability, to exercise. When even low levels of daily activity are impaired, the quality of life for heart failure patients suffers considerably. The mechanisms for exercise intolerance are very complicated and extend far beyond impaired cardiac performance. Listen in as Associate Editor Irving Zucker, senior author David Poole (Kansas State University) and leading expert Peter Wagner (University of California, San Diego) discuss the new Review article by Poole and colleagues, which tackles the mechanisms of muscle dysfunction in heart failure at the oxygen transport and microcirculatory levels.

David C. Poole, Daniel M. Hirai, Steven W. Copp, and Timothy I. Musch. Muscle Oxygen Transport and Utilization in Heart Failure: Implications for Exercise (In)tolerance Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published ahead of print November 18, 2011, doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00943.2011.