Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How amiodarone affects heart rhythm in dogs with heart failure
By Zhou, Shu-Xian et al.·Published in Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology·2012·Department of Internal Medicine, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of amiodarone on dispersion of ventricular repolarization in a canine congestive heart failure model.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) were given a medication called amiodarone to see if it could help with heart rhythm problems. After 4-5 weeks of treatment, the dogs that received amiodarone showed improvements in their heart's electrical activity, which could help prevent dangerous heart rhythms. The study found that amiodarone not only reduced the time it took for the heart to reset after beating but also made it less likely for the heart to go into a dangerous rhythm. This suggests that amiodarone could be a helpful treatment for dogs with CHF.
People also search for: dog congestive heart failure treatment · amiodarone for dogs · heart rhythm problems in dogs
Abstract
The effects of amiodarone on ventricular electrophysiological parameters, especially the dispersion of ventricular repolarization, were investigated in a canine model of congestive heart failure (CHF). Dogs were randomized to either a control, amiodarone, CHF, or CHF+amiodarone group. Dogs in the CHF and CHF+amiodarone groups underwent 4-5 weeks of rapid ventricular pacing; dogs in the control and amiodarone groups underwent sham operation only. Amiodarone (20 mg/kg per day) was administered orally, beginning on postoperative Day 1, in the treatment groups; ventricular electrophysiological variables were evaluated 4-5 weeks after rapid pacing or sham operation. In CHF dogs, the transmural dispersion ventricular repolarization time (TDVRT) increased significantly. Amiodarone significantly decreased the TDVRT in CHF dogs. The ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) decreased in the CHF group. Amiodarone increased the VFT in CHF dogs. The TDVRT increased in CHF dogs, but amiodarone decreased TDVRT and increased VFT in these dogs. These results suggest a beneficial effect of amiodarone on malignant arrhythmias and may provide the basis for its use in CHF patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22229329/