title: Suramin attenuates dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy in the mdx mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of suramin, an antifibrotic agent, on cardiac function and remodeling in mdx mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  mdx mice (8 months old) received intraperitoneal injections of suramin twice a week for 3 months. Control mdx mice (8 months old) were injected with saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suramin improved the electrocardiography profile with the main corrections seen in S- to R-wave ratio, PR interval, and Q amplitude, and a significant decrease in the cardiomyopathy index. Suramin decreased myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and myonecrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that suramin may be a new adjunctive therapy to help improve cardiomyopathy in DMD.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Drielen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Oliveira Moreira
authors.forename: Juliano Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ana Paula Tiemi
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Taniguti
authors.forename: Cíntia Yuri
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Luis Alberto Ferreira
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Miguel Arcanjo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Areas
authors.forename: Humberto Santo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Maria Julia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000172:deficiency*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D013498:Suramin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016189:Dystrophin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013498:Suramin; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: DMD; antifibrotic drugs; cardiomyopathy; mdx; suramin