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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2018; 32(2); 815-821; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15055

Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: Based on its pharmacokinetic profile and electrophysiological effects in healthy horses, sotalol potentially could be used as a long-term PO antiarrhythmic drug in horses. Objective: To evaluate the effect of sotalol on heart rate (HR), QT interval, atrial fibrillatory rate, and success of cardioversion in horses with naturally occurring chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Twenty-eight horses referred for transvenous electrical cardioversion of AF were treated with 2 mg/kg sotalol PO q12h for 3 days before cardioversion, and 13 horses underwent the same protocol without sotalol administration. Methods: Retrospective study. Before and after sotalol or no treatment, the HR was measured at rest and during an exercise test. The QT interval and atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) were measured at rest using tissue Doppler velocity imaging. Results: In the control group, no significant differences were found between the 2 examinations. In the sotalol group, the HR at rest and during exercise was significantly lower after sotalol treatment, whereas the QT interval and AFCL measured by tissue Doppler increased significantly. Cardioversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 25/28 horses in the sotalol group and all horses in the control group, but the median number of shocks and energy at cardioversion were significantly lower in the sotalol group. Conclusions: In horses with AF, sotalol administration results in class III antiarrhythmic effects and β-blocking activity, with moderate HR reduction during exercise.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-20 PubMed ID: 29460446PubMed Central: PMC5866983DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15055Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates the effects of the antiarrhythmic drug sotalol in horses suffering from chronic atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly observing its impact on heart rate, QT interval, atrial fibrillatory rate, and cardioversion success. The study found that sotalol administration resulted in a significant reduction of heart rates at rest and during exercise, increased QT interval and atrial fibrillation cycle length, and required fewer shocks and lower energy during cardioversion, suggesting its potential as a long-term treatment for AF in horses.

Understanding the Research Method

  • A total of 28 horses referred for transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) were treated with 2 mg/kg of sotalol orally twice a day for three days before cardioversion. A control group of 13 horses underwent the same protocol but without the administration of sotalol.
  • This is a retrospective study, meant to observe and analyze pre-existing conditions and outcomes, rather than introducing new treatments or interventions.
  • Heart rates of the horses were measured both at rest and during an exercise test, before and after sotalol treatment or the no treatment control. The QT interval and the atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) were also measured at rest using tissue Doppler velocity imaging.

Key Findings of the Study

  • No significant differences were observed in the control group between the two examinations, i.e., with and without sotalol administration.
  • In the sotalol group, both resting and exercise heart rates were found to be significantly lower after the sotalol treatment. The QT interval and the AFCL increased significantly post-treatment.
  • Cardioversion to normal sinus rhythm was achieved in 25 out of the 28 horses in the sotalol group and all horses in the control group. However, the median number of shocks needed and the energy utilized during cardioversion were significantly lesser in the sotalol group.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The study concluded that in horses with AF, administration of sotalol resulted in class III antiarrhythmic effects along with β-blocking activity.
  • Sotalol was observed to have a moderating effect on hearts rate during exercise, besides causing a significant reduction in heart rate even during rest.
  • The requirement for fewer shocks and lower energy in the cardioversion process suggests that sotalol could be an effective long-term antiarrhythmic treatment for horses with atrial fibrillation.

Cite This Article

APA
Decloedt A, Broux B, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Van Steenkiste G, Vera L, Ven S, van Loon G. (2018). Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation. J Vet Intern Med, 32(2), 815-821. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15055

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Pages: 815-821

Researcher Affiliations

Decloedt, Annelies
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
Broux, Barbara
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
De Clercq, Dominique
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
Deprez, Piet
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
Van Steenkiste, Glenn
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
Vera, Lisse
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
Ven, Sofie
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
van Loon, Gunther
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy
  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy
  • Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Echocardiography, Doppler / veterinary
  • Electric Countershock / veterinary
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sotalol / therapeutic use

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Dufourni A, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses: Horse and procedural factors correlated with success and recurrence. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):758-769.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16395pubmed: 35246994google scholar: lookup
  2. Corradini I, Fernández-Ruiz A, Barba M, Engel-Manchado J. Stall-side screening potential of a smartphone electrocardiogram recorded over both sides of the thorax in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2101-2108.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.15795pubmed: 32639655google scholar: lookup
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