title: Comparison of acute electrophysiological effects of amiodarone and its metabolite desethylamiodarone in Langendorff perfused guinea pig hearts.
abstract: During long-term treatment with amiodarone, slowing of conduction through the atrioventricular node, a prolongation of the QT-interval, and a prolongation of the atrial and ventricular myocardial refractoriness always developed. During short-term treatment, these effects were not found, except for depression of the AV-nodal conduction. This led to the suggestion that the electrophysiological effects of amiodarone during long-term treatment might be partly the result of the accumulation of its metabolite desethylamiodarone. Therefore, we examined the electrophysiological effects of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone on conduction and refractoriness in isolated spontaneously beating guinea pig hearts perfused by the method of Langendorff. Within 1 h of perfusion, desethylamiodarone caused a more pronounced prolongation of the AV-nodal, His-bundle, and intraventricular conduction intervals than did amiodarone. Desethylamiodarone, but not amiodarone led to a prolongation of the QT-interval. The refractoriness of sinoatrial-, AV-nodal conduction, and of the atrial myocardium were significantly more prolonged by amiodarone than by desethylamiodarone. Both compounds showed a comparable strong rate-dependent effect on AV-nodal refractoriness. The ventricular refractoriness was similarily prolonged by either compound. These results show that for the class-III effects (i.e., prolongation of repolarization period) observed under chronic treatment of amiodarone the metabolite desethylamiodarone may be responsible. Desethylamiodarone also exerts more pronounced effects on the fast-channel-dependent parts of the conduction system than does amiodarone, a fact indicated by a higher prolongation of His-bundle and intraventricular conduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Windisch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicenzi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eggenreich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Tritthart
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C036116:desethylamiodarone; D000638:Amiodarone