LONG-TERM THERAPY WITH TRIMETAZIDINE IN CARDIOMYOPATHIC SYRIAN-HAMSTER-BIO-14 6/

The cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster (CMH) of the strain BIO 14:6 is a m odel for both cardiac and skeletal muscle abnormalities. It has reduce d longevity and noticeable hypertrophy of the heart and liver. At 220 days, CMHs display a total Ca2+ overload, 1.3-1.8-fold normal and a cy tosolic Ca2+ concentration 2-4-fold higher than normal. Long-term oral treatment (18 mg/kg per day) with trimetazidine (anti-ischaemic drug) , from age 30 to 350 days, was more efficient than the standard Ca2+ b locker verapamil. Trimetazidine increased the median survival time of CMH by 57% and the hypertrophy disappeared. The total Ca2+ level in CM Hs reverted to that of normal Syrian hamsters (F1B). The cytosolic Ca2 + overload was limited to a factor of congruent to 2. Therefore, trime tazidine possesses anti-Ca2+ properties and is effective in increasing survival and decreasing the heart and liver hypertrophy of CMH. This suggests that trimetazidine may be valuable in the prevention of conge stive heart failure of similar aetiology. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.