Eprosartan improves cardiac function in swine working heart model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
Eprosartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used as an antihypertensive. We sought to evaluate the regional effect of Eprosartan on postinfarct ventricular remodeling and myocardial function in an isolated swine working heart model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.


METHODS
22 swine hearts were perfused with the Langendorff perfusion apparatus under standard experimental conditions. Myocardial ischemia was induced by a 10-min left anterior descending artery ligation. Hearts were reperfused with either saline (control group, n=11), or Eprosartan (treatment group, n=11). Left ventricular pressure (LVP) and regional heart parameters such as intramyocardial pressure (IMP), wall thickening rate (WTh), and pressure-length-loops (PLL) were measured at baseline and after 30 min of reperfusion.


RESULTS
Measured parameters were statistically similar between the 2 groups at baseline. The administration of Eprosartan led to a significantly better recovery of IMP and WTh: 44.4±2.5 mmHg vs. 51.2±3.3 mmHg, p<0.001 and 3.8±0.4 µm vs. 4.4±0.3 µm, p=0.001, respectively. PLL were also significantly higher in the treatment group following reperfusion (21694±3259 units vs. 31267±3429 units, p<0.01). There was no difference in the LVP response to Eprosartan versus controls (63.6±3.0 mmHg vs. 62.5±3.1 mmHg, p=0.400).


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-treatment with Eprosartan is associated with a significant improvement in regional cardiac function under ischemic conditions. Pharmacological treatment with eprosartan may exert a direct cardioprotective effect on ischemic myocardium.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Marfan Center - University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Alexander
A
Weymann
Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Anton
A
Sabashnikov
Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Nikhil P
NP
Patil
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Wolfgang
W
Konertz
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Diethelm
D
Modersohn
Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Pascal M
PM
Dohmen
D000179:Acrylates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000187:drug effects*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010477:Perfusion; D013552:Swine; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000179:Acrylates; D007093:Imidazoles; D013876:Thiophenes; C068373:eprosartan