Romeiro, Fernando Gomes [UNESP]Okoshi, Katashi [UNESP]Zornoff, Leonardo Antonio Mamede [UNESP]Okoshi, Marina Politi [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272012-03-01Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, v. 98, n. 3, p. 273-277, 2012.0066-782X1678-4170http://hdl.handle.net/11449/73211Over the last decade, several studies were conducted on the gastrointestinal changes associated to chronic heart failure. This article presents a literature review on the physiopathology and clinical consequences of pathological digestive changes of heart failure patients. Structural and functional abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract, such as edema of absorptive mucosa and intestinal bacterial overgrowth, have been leading to serious clinical consequences. Some of these consequences are cardiac cachexia, systemic inflammatory activation and anemia. These conditions, alone or in combination, may lead to worsening of the pre-existing ventricular dysfunction. Although currently there is no therapy specifically earmarked for gastrointestinal changes associated to heart failure, the understanding of digestive abnormalities is germane for the prevention and management of systemic consequences.273-277engAbnormalities of the digestive systemAnemiaCachexiaHeart failure/complicationsIntestinal absorptionacetylcysteinebacterium lipopolysaccharidediuretic agentendotoxinetanerceptimmunoglobulininfliximabinterleukin 1 receptor blocking agentinterleukin 10ironmethotrexatemitogen activated protein kinase p38 inhibitorpentoxifyllinethalidomidetumor necrosis factor alphatumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme inhibitoranemiabacterial overgrowthcachexiadiet therapyedemaexercisegastrointestinal absorptiongastrointestinal changegastrointestinal diseaseheart failureheart ventricle functionhumanimmunomodulationinflammationintestine floraintestine mucosa permeabilityiron deficiencypathophysiologyreviewstomach antrum vascular ectasiastomach mucosatelangiectasiaGastrointestinal DiseasesHeart FailureHumansInflammationIntestinal AbsorptionIntestinesResenha10.1590/S0066-782X2012000300011S0066-782X2012000300011Acesso aberto2-s2.0-848603354282-s2.0-84860335428.pdf159097157630942044631386719984325016839015394547