Neurohumoral modulation during waon therapy in chronic heart failure: Subanalysis of Waon-CHF study

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a disease of neurohumoral dysfunction and current pharmacological therapies for HF have not improved mortality rates, thus requiring additional new strategies. Waon therapy for HF patients may be a complementary strategy with peripheral vasodilation via nitric oxide. We hypothesized that Waon therapy would improve neurohumoral factors, such as natriuretic peptides (NP) and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in HF. Methods and Results: Plasma samples were collected from patients enrolled in the WAON-CHF Study (Waon therapy (n=77) or control (n=73)) before and after the treatment. B-type NP (BNP), C-type NP (CNP), and aldosterone (Aldo) levels were measured by respective specific radioimmunoassays. Although clinical parameters significantly improved in the Waon group compared with the control group, BNP, Aldo, and CNP levels were not statistically different between groups. On subanalysis with patient variables, BNP levels were improved in the Waon group treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin-receptor blocker or spironolactone. In addition, Aldo levels were improved in the Waon group patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and inotrope use, and CNP levels were improved in Waon group patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m². These changes were not observed in the control group. Conclusions: Waon therapy may accelerate the favorable actions of RAAS modulators in HF.