Use of propafenone for conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
Abstract: To investigate effects of IV administration of propafenone for naturally occurring and experimentally induced chronic atrial fibrillation in horses. Methods: 2 horses with naturally occurring atrial fibrillation and 4 horses with pacing-induced atrial fibrillation. Methods: Horses received a bolus of propafenone (2 mg/kg, IV over 15 minutes). If atrial fibrillation persisted after 20 minutes, a continuous infusion of propafenone (7 microg/kg/min) was given for 120 minutes. Before, during, and after treatment, plasma propafenone concentrations, hematologic and serum biochemical values, and electolyte concentrations analyses were determined and clinical signs were monitored. Surface ECGs were recorded. If propafenone treatment failed, quinidine sulfate was administered. Results: Bolus and continuous infusion induced minimal adverse effects. During the 15-minute bolus administration, a slight increase in heart rate was observed and horses appeared more sensitive to external stimuli. Throughout treatment, no significant changes were observed in respiratory rate, QRS or corrected QT duration, or results of hematologic analyses. Although a significant increase in F-wave interval and atrial fibrillation cycle length was observed and plasma propafenone concentrations (569 to 1,268 ng/mL) reached the human therapeutic range (64 to 1,044 ng/mL), none of the horses cardioverted to sinus rhythm. Sinus rhythm could be restored in all horses via standard oral administration of quinidine. Conclusions: A slow IV bolus of 2 mg of propafenone/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 7 microg/kg/min over 2 hours was not an effective treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
Publication Date: 2009-02-24 PubMed ID: 19231955DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.70.2.223Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the effects of intravenous administration of propafenone on chronic atrial fibrillation in horses, and concludes that it is not an effective treatment method.
Methods
- A total of 6 horses were involved in the study, two of which had naturally occurring atrial fibrillation, while the other four horses had pacing-induced atrial fibrillation.
- The horses were administered a bolus of propafenone intravenously over a period of 15 minutes.
- If the atrial fibrillation persisted after 20 minutes, the horses were subject to a continuous infusion of propafenone for 120 minutes.
- Several health and wellness parameters of the horses – including plasma propafenone concentrations, hematologic and serum biochemical values, and electrolyte concentrations – were monitored before, during and after the treatment.
- Surface ECGs (electrocardiograms) were recorded for all the horses.
- If the propafenone treatment was unsuccessful, the horses were given quinidine sulfate.
Results
- The administration of propafenone, both as a bolus and a continuous infusion, induced minimal adverse effects on the horses.
- A slight increase in heart rate was noted during the 15-minute bolus administration, while the horses seemed to be more reactive to external stimuli.
- No significant changes were observed in respiratory rate, QRS or corrected QT duration, or results of hematologic analyses throughout the treatment.
- Even though there was a noteworthy increase in F-wave interval and atrial fibrillation cycle length, and the plasma propafenone concentrations reached the human therapeutic range, all horses retained their atrial fibrillation and did not cardiovert to sinus rhythm.
- However, sinus rhythm was successfully restored in all horses via the standard oral administration of quinidine.
Conclusion
- Based on the study, a slow IV bolus of 2 mg of propafenone per kg followed by a continuous infusion of 7 micrograms per kg per minute over a course of 2 hours, was not an effective treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
De Clercq D, van Loon G, Tavernier R, Verbesselt R, Deprez P.
(2009).
Use of propafenone for conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 70(2), 223-227.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.70.2.223 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
- Propafenone / administration & dosage
- Propafenone / blood
- Propafenone / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Kuroda T, Minamijima Y, Kinman CK, Takahashi Y, Ebisuda Y, Inoue K, Ishikawa H, Mita H, Tamura N, Nukada T, Toutain PL, Ohta M. Rational quinidine dosage regimen for atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred racehorses based on population pharmacokinetics. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1454342.
- Hesselkilde EZ, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Fenner M, Kruse DD, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Braunstein TH, Carlson J, Platonov PG, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Longitudinal study of electrical, functional and structural remodelling in an equine model of atrial fibrillation. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Oct 21;19(1):228.
- 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.
- 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.
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