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Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricle Function in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: January 20, 2023
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Levosimendan improves cardiac function and myocardial efficiency in rats with right ventricular failure
Mona S Hansen1, Asger Andersen1, Lars P Tolbod2
11 Department of Cardiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Pulmonary Circulation
|November 4, 2017
Summary
Levosimendan enhances right ventricular (RV) function and myocardial external efficiency (MEE) in failing RVs without increasing oxygen consumption. This study highlights levosimendan
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
Background:
- Right ventricular (RV) failure is a significant clinical challenge.
- Levosimendan is known to improve cardiac function but its effects on RV oxygen consumption and efficiency are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of levosimendan on RV function, myocardial oxygen consumption, myocardial external efficiency (MEE), and metabolism in a rat model of RV hypertrophy and failure.
Main Methods:
- RV hypertrophy and failure induced by pulmonary trunk banding in rats.
- Seven weeks of treatment with vehicle or levosimendan.
- Assessment using echocardiography, 11C-acetate PET, 18F-FDG PET, and invasive pressure measurements.
Main Results:
- Levosimendan significantly improved RV MEE by increasing RV external work.
- RV myocardial oxygen consumption and glucose uptake remained unchanged.
- Levosimendan improved RV function without increasing metabolic demand.
Conclusions:
- In the failing RV, levosimendan enhances function and MEE without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption.
- The observed improvements are not linked to altered myocardial glucose uptake.
- Findings support the potential therapeutic value of chronic levosimendan treatment for RV failure.
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