Researchers have found that Protein therapy – recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor -AB (rhPDGF-AB) – could substantially improve heart function f a patient having suffered a cardiac arrest. Infusing rhPDGF into participants that have had heart attacks, improves the quality of the scar, leads to the formation of new blood vessels and reduces rates of dangerous heart arrhythmia (irregularities of heart rhythm that can cause sudden death).

There is no treatment currently available to change the scar this way. It’s been observed that while the treatment did not affect overall size of the scar, rhPDGF-AB led to increased scar collagen fibre alignment and strength. This improved heart function after the cardiac arrest.

Following a heart attack, the heart muscle is damaged, causing thick scar tissue to form. This can limit heart’s ability to function efficiently, and can increase the rate of heart failure, causing sudden cardiac death. This novel treatment aims to restore blood and oxygen supply to the heart as quickly as possible to reduce scarring.