title: The effect of long-term amiodarone administration on myocardial fibrosis and evolution of left ventricular remodeling in a porcine model of ischemic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Amiodarone is effective in suppressing arrhythmias in heart failure patients. We investigated the effect of long-term amiodarone administration on myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in a porcine model of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Eighteen infarcted farm pigs were randomized to receive long-term amiodarone administration for 3 months (n = 9) or conventional follow-up (n = 9). Evolution of LV remodeling over 3 months post-myocardial infarction was examined at tissue level (myocyte size, myocardial fibrosis and vascular density assessed by whole-field digital histopathology), organ level (LV structure and function assessed by echocardiography), and systemic level (BNP and MMP-9 levels). Long-term administration of the standard anti-arrhythmic doses of amiodarone was not associated with adverse effects on myocardial fibrosis and other features of adverse cardiac remodeling. This favorable safety profile suggests that long-term anti-arrhythmic therapy with amiodarone warrants further clinical investigation in the subpopulation of heart failure patients with significantly increased burden of arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zagorianou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Meletios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marougkas
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Drakos
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diakos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "N.S. Christeas", University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "N.S. Christeas", University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Perrea
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anastasiou-Nana
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Cardiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, 67 Mikras Asias Street, 11 527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malliaras
keywords: Amiodarone; Cardiac remodeling; Heart failure; Myocardial fibrosis; Myocardial infarction