Research on meldonium treatment in patients with right ventricular failure

Right ventricular failure causes significant limitation of physical activity and impaired quality of life in patients and is a cause of premature death. Treatment options for right ventricular failure are very limited worldwide. It is therefore essential to study and explore new medications and molecules that could potentially improve the function of the right ventricle, and consequently patients’ quality of life and survival rate.

Right ventricular failure is common in various pulmonary and cardiac pathologies. It is also the leading cause of death in pulmonary hypertension patients. Pulmonary hypertension is a common disease with rare forms that frequently affects young people. There are more than 300 patients registered in Latvia suffering from a rare form of pulmonary hypertension.

The development of right ventricular failure is characterised by altered myocardial energy metabolism. In the study, pulmonary arterial hypertension patients were given meldonium in addition to a scientifically proven and guideline-approved treatment. Meldonium has previously been used as a cardioprotective drug in cases of left ventricular failure. 

Dana Kigitoviča's dissertation thesis showed for the first time, that meldonium treatment can delay the development of right ventricular failure induced by pulmonary arterial hypertension by restoring energy metabolism in the right ventricle, thereby improving function.

In a study, when meldonium was prescribed to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular failure, it reduced shortness of breath and thus significantly improved quality of life.

The results of the study suggest that cardiometabolic drugs can be used to treat patients with progressive right ventricular failure.

Dana Kigitoviča will defend her doctoral thesis “Effects of Meldonium on Right Ventricular Failure in a Preclinical Model and Patients” on 20 December 2023. Read more

RSU dissertation database