Cardioprotective Effects of Pravastatin Against Lethal Ventricular Arrhythmias Induced by Reperfusion in the Rat Heart

Abstract

Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp eperfusion therapy by primary percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolysis is the most effective strategy to reduce mortality and improve the clinical outcome in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, reperfusion itself is associated with a risk of lethal ventricular arrhythmias. In fact, reperfusion-induced arrhythmias were identified in 30% of patients with successful reperfusion by thrombolysis. 1 Furthermore, in the majority of cases, successful restoration of coronary flow by primary angioplasty is accompanied by reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, including bradyarrhythmias, ventricular premature contractions (VPC), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). 2 VT and VF by spontaneous recanalization are especially critical and underlie many cases of sudden cardiac death before hospital arrival. In a previous study of 12 patients who developed VF before the arrival of the ambulance, only one patient was discharged alive. 3 The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are attracting much attention because of their putative pleiotropic effects. We have reported that administration of atorvastatin in the early phase of an AMI improves cardiac function and attenuates B-type natriuretic peptide increase, and these effects were assumed to be independent of the drug's lipid-lowering effect. 4 Consistently, other reports have shown that early statin treatment for AMI patients decreases the risk of congestive heart failure and long-term mortality. 5,6 Several large clinical trials have also shown that statins reduce sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary

Protective effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) against lethal ventricular arrhythmias induced by heart reperfusion in rat: A potential anti-arrhythmic agent

“…The number of episodes and durations of VT and VF were also summed. In addition, the severity of arrhythmias in different groups was presented quantitatively by a previous scoring system with some modifications (Thuc et al, 2011), which are defined as follows: 0, 510 PVCs; 1, !10 PVCs; 2, 1-5 episodes of VT; 3, 45 episodes of VT or 1 episode of VF; 4, 2-5 episodes of VF; 5, 45 episodes of VF.…”

Toxic effects of T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol on the mitochondrial electron transport system of cardiomyocytes in rats

“…Mitochondrial dysfunction or genetic abnormalities lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (Marin-Garcia and Goldenthal, 2002;Di Donato, 2009;Thuc et al, 2011). In addition, cardiac mitochondria are considered necessary organelles that are involved in cardiomyocyte excitability.…”

Effects of Pitavastatin on Cardiac Structure and Function and on Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Hypertensive Patients

“…[18][19][20] The mevalonate pathway that is a target in patients with HTN could be inhibited by lipophilic statins, because cardiovascular remodeling in patients with HTN causes damage to various organs. 21 In the present study, the LV mass index in the HTN patients treated with pitavastatin was significantly decreased by 6%, and this was associated with improved diastolic function despite no difference in blood pressure after 1 year.…”