Improved endothelial function in heart failure outpatients with reduced ejection fraction after vericiguat therapy.

BACKGROUND

Vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, has been shown to be effective in improving the prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and worsening heart failure. We sought to evaluate possible changes in endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with HFrEF treated with vericiguat.

RESULTS

Improved FMD values were found after 3 months of therapy with vericiguat (19 ± 11 vs. 15 ± 10% FMD, P  = 0.04). FMD variation at follow-up was inversely related to baseline FMD values ( r  = -0.52, P  = 0.001).

MAJOR FINDINGS: Three months of therapy with vericiguat in patients with HFrEF and worsening heart failure were associated with improved endothelial function assessed by FMD.