Posted on 01/20/2023 8:37:17 PM PST by ConservativeMind
The neurotransmitter serotonin can adversely affect the heart's mitral valve, contributing to a heart disease known as degenerative mitral regurgitation, according to a study
Degenerative mitral regurgitation is one of the most common cardiac valve diseases.
Although patients initially are asymptomatic, over time the mitral valve becomes thickened and deformed, and patients progressively feel tired and short of breath. As pumping becomes less efficient due to this leak, the heart needs to work harder. This extra work for the heart eventually causes congestive heart failure.
The researchers found taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—the most commonly-prescribed antidepressants—was associated with severe mitral regurgitation, which required surgery at a younger age than those not taking SSRIs.
In animal models, they found that normal mice treated with high doses of SSRIs developed thickened mitral valves. They also found mice lacking the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene, the target of SSRIs, developed thicker mitral valves.
The researchers identified genetic variants in a region of the SERT gene (5HTTLPR) that affect how active SERT is. Patients with two copies of a "long" variation of the gene that make SERT less active—one copy from the mother, and one from the father—had much lower SERT activity and required surgery more often.
Patients with this "long-long" variant were more likely to react to serotonin in a way that could change the mitral valve. Additionally, "long-long" mitral valve cells were more sensitive to SSRI treatment.
The researchers noted that they did not find a negative effect with normal doses of SSRIs and that a healthy mitral valve may tolerate low SERT without deforming, as it is unlikely that low SERT can cause degeneration of the mitral valve by itself. They suspect that once the mitral valve has started to degenerate, it may be more susceptible to serotonin and low SERT.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Very interesting.
I remember the BIG push after ACA(Obama care) and MD’s saying SSRI’s give better pain reduction and opioids.
Biggest anti depressants push in the pandemic was SSRI’s and SNRI’s.
All these heart problems now
What exactly is serotonin and what is it supposed to do in the body?
Many things via many different receptors of two classes.
This article may be relevant to this article.
https://www.nature.com/articles/pr2009136
So does that mean depressed people have a lower chance of heart attacks?
It’s a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood.
I have never taken serotonin, yet in 1990 I blew a mitral valve after a heavy exercise routine. No more exercising for me!
I had open heart surgery in 1990 at the age of 44 and am constantly monitored for my warfarin blood level as I have an Omniscience heart valve. From what the doctors could tell, I had a bad valve and Afib all my life, yet spent 4 years in the military with no problems.
Still ticking and going strong at 77!
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