Pharmacokinetics of intravenously and orally administered sotalol hydrochloride in horses and effects on surface electrocardiogram and left ventricular systolic function.
Abstract: Arrhythmias are common in horses. Some, such as frequent atrial or ventricular premature beats, may require long-term anti-arrhythmic therapy. In humans and small animals, sotalol hydrochloride (STL) is often used for chronic oral anti-arrhythmic therapy. STL prolongs repolarization and the effective refractory period in all cardiac tissues. No information on STL pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics in horses is available and the aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of intravenously (IV) and orally (PO) administered STL and the effects on surface electrocardiogram and left ventricular systolic function. Six healthy horses were given 1 mg STL/kg bodyweight either IV or PO. Blood samples to determine plasma STL concentrations were taken before and at several time points after STL administration. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed at different time points before and after IV STL administration. Mean peak plasma concentrations after IV and PO administration of STL were 1624 ng/mL and 317 ng/mL, respectively. The oral bioavailability was intermediate (48%) with maximal absorption after 0.94 h, a moderate distribution and a mean elimination half-life of 15.24 h. After IV administration, there was a significant increase in QT interval, but no significant changes in other electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters. Transient transpiration was observed after IV administration, but no adverse effects were noted after a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg STL in any of the horses. It was concluded that STL has an intermediate oral bioavailability in the horse and might be useful in the treatment of equine arrhythmias.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-10-01 PubMed ID: 26670333DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.09.021Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper looks at the study of how Sotalol Hydrochloride, a drug for treating irregular heartbeats in humans and small animals, works when introduced to horses. The study aims to understand how the drug is absorbed and distributed in the body of the horse and how it affects the horse’s heart rhythm and the performance of the left ventricle.
Study Methodology
- Six healthy horses were used for this study. Each was administered Sotalol Hydrochloride (STL) either intravenously (IV) or orally (PO) at a dose of 1 mg per kg of the horse’s body weight.
- A series of blood samples were taken before and at various intervals after the administration of STL to measure plasma STL concentrations.
- In order to monitor the heart’s reaction to STL, Electrocardiography and Echocardiography examinations were performed at different time intervals before and after IV administration of STL.
Research Findings
- The study found that after being administered intravenously, the peak plasma concentration was significantly higher at 1624 ng/mL as opposed to oral administration which resulted in a mean peak plasma concentration of 317 ng/mL.
- The oral bioavailability of STL was found to be intermediate (48%), with maximal absorption occurring after 0.94 hours.
- STL had a moderate distribution throughout the horses’ bodies and it took roughly 15.24 hours for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.
- The research found that IV administration resulted in a significant increase in QT interval – a component of the heart rhythm – but other parameters of the horse’s heart were not significantly changed.
- In terms of side effects, Transient transpiration (temporary sweating) was observed after IV administration, but no adverse effects were noticed after a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg STL in any of the horses.
Conclusions
The research concluded that Sotalol Hydrochloride has an intermediate oral bioavailability in horses, and it is potentially useful in treatments aiming to correct abnormal heart rhythms. This leads to an indication that STL could potentially be used for treating equine arrhythmias.
Cite This Article
APA
Broux B, De Clercq D, Decloedt A, De Baere S, Devreese M, Van Der Vekens N, Ven S, Croubels S, van Loon G.
(2015).
Pharmacokinetics of intravenously and orally administered sotalol hydrochloride in horses and effects on surface electrocardiogram and left ventricular systolic function.
Vet J, 208, 60-64.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.09.021 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: Barbara.Broux@UGent.be.
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Intravenous / veterinary
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacokinetics
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology
- Biological Availability
- Electrocardiography / drug effects
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Horses / metabolism
- Sotalol / pharmacokinetics
- Sotalol / pharmacology
- Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- 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.
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