title: Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: Mortality after acute myocardial infarction remains substantial and is associated with significant morbidity, like heart failure. Novel therapeutics are therefore required to confine cardiac damage, promote survival and reduce the disease burden of heart failure. Large animal experiments are an essential part in the translational process from experimental to clinical therapies. To optimize clinical translation, robust and representative outcome measures are mandatory. The present manuscript aims to address this need by describing the assessment of three clinically relevant outcome modalities in a pig acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model: infarct size in relation to area at risk (IS/AAR) staining, 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and admittance-based pressure-volume (PV) loops. Infarct size is the main determinant driving the transition from AMI to heart failure and can be quantified by IS/AAR staining. Echocardiography is a reliable and robust tool in the assessment of global and regional cardiac function in clinical cardiology. Here, a method for three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) in pigs is provided. Extensive insight into cardiac performance can be obtained by admittance-based pressure-volume (PV) loops, including intrinsic parameters of myocardial function that are pre- and afterload independent. Combined with a clinically feasible experimental study protocol, these outcome measures provide researchers with essential information to determine whether novel therapeutic strategies could yield promising targets for future testing in clinical studies.
authors: Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; G.H.J.Ellenbroek@umcutrecht.nl.
authors: Guilielmus H J M
authors: GH
authors: Ellenbroek
authors: Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors: Gerardus P J
authors: GP
authors: van Hout
authors: Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors: Leo
authors: L
authors: Timmers
authors: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; Interuniversity Cardiology Institutes of the Netherlands (ICIN).
authors: Pieter A
authors: PA
authors: Doevendans
authors: Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors: Gerard
authors: G
authors: Pasterkamp
authors: Department of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht; Department of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors: Imo E
authors: IE
authors: Hoefer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography; D006321:Heart; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction; D009206:Myocardium; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome