title: Cardioprotection by ivabradine through heart rate reduction and beyond.
abstract: The present review summarizes the experimental and clinical evidence for the anti-ischemic action of the selective bradycardic agent ivabradine. Improvements in myocardial blood flow and contractile function during experimental myocardial ischemia and the clinical anti-anginal effect are largely mediated by heart rate reduction. However, a significant reduction in infarct size by ivabradine persists in the absence of heart rate reduction, and such protection can also be recruited when ivabradine is given only during early reperfusion. The mechanisms for such pleiotropic action of ivabradine remain to be resolved.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathophysiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany. gerd.heusch@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heusch
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skyschally
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077550:Ivabradine
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D000077550:Ivabradine