Recent Advances in Left Ventricular Unloading Therapy

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to the Special Issue of Life dedicated to “Recent Advances in Left Ventricular Unloading Therapy”. The field of left ventricular (LV) unloading has seen remarkable progress in recent years, driven by the need for innovative strategies to improve outcomes in patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock. By reducing myocardial workload and oxygen demand, LV unloading therapies play a critical role in preserving cardiac function, promoting myocardial recovery, and enhancing long-term prognosis.

As the landscape of cardiovascular medicine evolves, novel approaches to LV unloading—including mechanical circulatory support devices, pharmacological interventions, and hybrid strategies—are transforming patient care. The integration of percutaneous ventricular assist devices (VADs), microaxial flow pumps (mAFPs), and emerging technologies such as direct left atrial decompression and active myocardial conditioning has expanded therapeutic possibilities. Additionally, increasing knowledge of the molecular and cellular effects of unloading on myocardial tissue is shaping the development of targeted interventions aimed at reversing heart failure progression.

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of LV unloading therapy and its clinical applications. We welcome contributions on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Mechanisms of myocardial recovery and remodeling during LV unloading;
• Advancements in mechanical circulatory support (MCS), including percutaneous and implantable devices;
• Pharmacological strategies to enhance unloading efficacy and cardiac regeneration;
• Role of LV unloading in acute myocardial infarction, including pre-reperfusion strategies;
• Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of unloading on myocardial tissue;
• Novel biomarkers and imaging techniques for assessing unloading response;
• Clinical outcomes and patient management in LV unloading therapy.

We invite researchers and clinicians to submit original research articles and review papers that contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field. This special issue aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide a platform for innovative strategies that improve cardiovascular care and patient outcomes.

We look forward to your valuable contributions and encourage you to share your latest research in this rapidly evolving domain.

Dr. Mehmet Oezkur
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• left ventricular unloading therapy
• cardiovascular medicine
• heart failure
• acute myocardial infarction