[Usefulness of trimetazidine in ischemia-reperfusion lesion. Experimental study in myocardial stunning model]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of trimetazidine (TMZ) on myocardial systolic dysfunction resulting from an isolated episode of induced coronary ischemia.

In a double-blinded randomized design we studied 13 mongrel anesthetized dogs of either sex (6 of them treated with oral TMZ previously). The anterior descending coronary artery was totally occluded during 15 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Global and regional cardiac variables were recorded in control and ischemic areas.

There were no significant differences between TMZ and placebo series with respect to global cardiac function variables. Both series showed no significant variations in global variables during the ischemia-reperfusion process. The shortening fraction in the ischemic area fell significantly during the ischemic period in both TMZ and placebo series reaching dyskinetic values. Myocardial contractility dysfunction persisted after 60 minutes of reperfusion in both series with no significant differences (41% vs 50% placebo).

Contrary to shorter and repeated occlusion periods, myocardial contractility recovery after a complete episode of ischemia did not show significant differences between TMZ-treated and placebo series.