Intravenous amiodarone treatment in horses with chronic atrial fibrillation.
Abstract: Six horses without underlying cardiac disease were presented because of atrial fibrillation of between 5 and 12 months duration. These horses received an intravenous amiodarone treatment of 5mg/kg/h for 1 h followed by 0.83mg/kg/h for 23h and subsequently 1.9mg/kg/h for 30h. During treatment, clinical signs were monitored and a surface ECG and an intra-atrial electrogram were recorded. Infusion was discontinued when sinus rhythm or side effects occurred. Four horses successfully cardioverted, of which one showed symptoms of hind limb weakness and weight shifting. Two horses did not cardiovert and showed similar side effects. In all horses, side effects disappeared within 6h after termination of treatment. Cardiac side effects, such as pro-arrhythmia, were not seen in any of the horses. Total bilirubin slightly increased in three horses and normalised within four days. It was concluded that amiodarone has the potential to treat naturally occurring chronic atrial fibrillation in horses, although further research is needed to refine the infusion protocol.
Publication Date: 2005-05-24 PubMed ID: 15908245DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.04.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Adverse Effects
- Amiodarone
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Intravenous Administration
- Pharmacology
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigated the effect of intravenous amiodarone treatment on horses with chronic atrial fibrillation (a heart condition), concluding that the drug could successfully treat the condition, despite side effects being experienced.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to determine the effectiveness and possible side effects of intravenous amiodarone in treating horses with chronic atrial fibrillation—a heart condition characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate.
Methodology and Studied Subjects
- The research focused on six horses with no underlying heart disease.
- All these horses were in a state of atrial fibrillation for a duration ranging from 5 to 12 months.
- These horses were subjected to intravenous amiodarone, administered at varying doses and hours.
- Throughout the treatment period, their symptoms were closely observed, and both surface and intra-atrial ECGs were recorded.
Findings and Observations
- Out of the six horses, four successfully cardioverted to a normal heart rhythm following the treatment with amiodarone.
- One of these four horses showed symptoms of hind limb weakness and weight shifting, whereas the other two did not respond to the treatment and demonstrated similar side-effects.
- All the side-effects disappeared within 6 hours following the conclusion of the treatment in all horses.
- None of the horses showed cardiac side-effects such as pro-arrhythmia (new or more frequent arrhythmia as a result of the medication).
- However, three horses exhibited a slight increase in their total bilirubin levels, which normalized within four days.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that intravenous amiodarone holds potential in treating naturally occurring chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
- The researchers, however, recommended more research to fine-tune the infusion protocol, given the side effects experienced during the study.
Cite This Article
APA
De Clercq D, van Loon G, Baert K, Tavernier R, Croubels S, De Backer P, Deprez P.
(2005).
Intravenous amiodarone treatment in horses with chronic atrial fibrillation.
Vet J, 172(1), 129-134.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.04.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Dominique.DeClercq@UGent.be
MeSH Terms
- Amiodarone / administration & dosage
- Amiodarone / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
- Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Chronic Disease
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Safety
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- 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.
- Buhl R, Hesselkilde EM, Carstensen H, Hopster-Iversen C, van Loon G, Decloedt A, Van Steenkiste G, Marr CM, Reef VB, Schwarzwald CC, Mitchell KJ, Nostell K, Nogradi N, Nielsen SS, Carlson J, Platonov PG. Atrial fibrillatory rate as predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses treated medically or with electrical cardioversion. Equine Vet J 2022 Nov;54(6):1013-1022.
- Carstensen H, Hesselkilde EZ, Fenner M, Loft-Andersen AV, Flethøj M, Kanters JK, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Time-dependent antiarrhythmic effects of flecainide on induced atrial fibrillation in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1708-1717.
- McGurrin MKJ. The diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation in the horse. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:83-90.
- Decloedt A, Broux B, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Van Steenkiste G, Vera L, Ven S, van Loon G. Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):815-821.
- Decloedt A, Schwarzwald CC, De Clercq D, Van Der Vekens N, Pardon B, Reef VB, van Loon G. Risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):946-53.
- Reef VB, Bonagura J, Buhl R, McGurrin MK, Schwarzwald CC, van Loon G, Young LE. Recommendations for management of equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):749-61.
- De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Sys SU, Verheyen T, Van Der Vekens N, van Loon G. Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):624-9.
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