title: Long term cardioprotective action of trimetazidine and potential effect on the inflammatory process in patients with ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long term effects of trimetazidine in patients with dilated ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The effects of trimetazidine on left ventricular function as well as its tolerability profile and potential anti-inflammatory effects were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  61 patients were randomly assigned either to receive trimetazidine (20 mg thrice daily) in addition to their conventional treatment or to continue their usual drug treatment for 18 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months with a clinical examination, echocardiography, and biochemical analysis (C reactive protein).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trimetazidine added to the usual treatment significantly improved the patients' functional status (assessed by New York Heart Association functional class). The functional improvement of trimetazidine treated patients was associated with a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (30 (6)%, 32 (8)%, 38 (7)%, and 37 (6)% v 31 (8)%, 30 (7)%, 28 (6)%, and 26 (9)% in control patients at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively) and with a significant effect on ventricular remodelling. C reactive protein plasma concentrations remained stable throughout the study in patients receiving trimetazidine (2.5 (1.0), 2.7 (2.0), 2.7 (3.0), and 3.0 (2.0) mg/l at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively) but increased significantly in the control group (2.4 (1.0), 3.4 (1.2), 6.0 (4.0), and 7.0 (5.0) mg/l, respectively). No significant adverse event or changes in clinical or biochemical parameters were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with trimetazidine added to the usual treatment for up to 18 months was well tolerated and induced a functional improvement in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Trimetazidine treatment was associated with a significant improvement of left ventricular function and the remodelling process. Results also suggest that the inflammatory response was limited in patients treated with trimetazidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Intensive Care Unit, Casa di Cura Villa Pini d'Abruzzo, Chieti, Italy. dinapoli@unich.it <dinapoli@unich.it>
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Napoli
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Taccardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barsotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014292:Trimetazidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D014292:Trimetazidine