Hypertension
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Progressive cardiac remodeling is characterized by subsequent chamber hypertrophy, enlargement, and pump dysfunction. It is also associated with increased cardiac fibrosis and matrix turnover. Interestingly, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha activators reduce cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis. ⋯ However, in PPARalpha-deficient mice, this chronic PO was exacerbated and associated with increased myocardial fibrosis and altered matrix remodeling. In the absence of PPARalpha, fenofibrates exerts deleterious, pleiotropic myocardial actions. This is an important observation, because PPARalpha agonists are considered possible inhibitory regulators of cardiac remodeling in the remodeled heart.