Glucagon and cardiovascular disease

Glucagon has been an important hormone for nearly a century, as it was first discovered in 1923. Over the years, research on glucagon has provided valuable insights into its function and its role in glucose homeostasis. Glucagon receptors have indeed been identified in cardiac tissue as well. This discovery indicates that glucagon might exert direct effects on the heart, extending beyond its primary role in regulating glucose levels in the liver. The cardiovascular implications of modulating glucagon's effects remain inadequately comprehended even in 2023. Researchers have continued to study its precise mechanisms of action and its potential therapeutic applications, especially in the context of addressing resistant cardiac failure, managing myocardial infarction, mitigating post-cardiac operation hypotension, countering intoxication from beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers, and addressing heart block. This article provides an overview of the current status of cardiac considerations in relation to the therapeutic potential of glucagon in 2023 and its future prospects.