title: Systolic time intervals: an effective measure of cardiac function in anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy of rabbits.
abstract: The laboratory rabbit appears to be an ideal animal model for the study of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy in that it exhibits a cumulative, dose-related, histologically similar lesion to that seen in man treated with the same drug. Quantification of this cardiomypathy with respect to total cumulative drug dose has been limited to histologic criteria, a cumbersome method which necessitates killing the study animal. With the intent of adapting noninvasive cardiac function studies, previously proven in man, to the rabbit, serial systolic time interval measurements in normal control and adriamycin (ADM)-treated rabbits are simple, easily performed, and readily reproducible, and accurately reflect physiologic cardiac function. In the rabbit, PEP:LVET ratios greater than 0.447 indicate significant ventricular dysfunction and are consistently seen at cumulative doses of ADM greater than 300 mg/m2.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin