title: Benefits of long-term beta-blockade in experimental chronic aortic regurgitation.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of beta-blockade on survival and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in rats with aortic valve regurgitation (AR). The pharmacological management of chronic AR remains controversial. No drug has been definitively proven to delay the need for valve replacement or to affect morbidity and/or mortality. Our group has reported that the adrenergic system is activated in an animal model of AR and that adrenergic blockade may help maintain normal LV function. The effects of prolonged treatment with a beta-blocker are unknown. Forty Wistar rats with severe AR were divided into 2 groups of 20 animals each and treated with metoprolol (Met, 25 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) or left untreated for 1 yr. LV remodeling was evaluated by echocardiography. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meir curves. Hearts were harvested for tissue analysis. All Met-treated animals were alive after 6 mo vs. 70% of untreated animals. After 1 yr, 60% of Met-treated animals were alive vs. 35% of untreated animals (P = 0.028). All deaths, except one, were sudden. There were no differences in LV ejection fraction (all >50%) or LV dimensions. LV mass tended to be lower in the Met-treated group. There was less subendocardial fibrosis in this group, as well as lower LV filling pressures (LV end-diastolic pressure). beta-Adrenergic receptor ratio (beta(1)/beta(2)) was improved. One year of treatment with Met was well tolerated. Met improved 1-yr survival, minimized LV hypertrophy, improved LV filling pressures, decreased LV subendocardial fibrosis, and helped restore the beta-adrenergic receptor ratio.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Cardiologie de Québec, Universite Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada G1V 4G5.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Champetier
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Drolet
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roussel
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couet
mesh_terms: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005355:Fibrosis; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D008790:Metoprolol