Key result
Captopril improves hemodynamics while prednisolone accelerates cardiomyopathy progression in mdx mice.
Why the study?
The effects of steroids on cardiac function in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy and the early role of ACE-inhibitors remain uncertain.
Does captopril or prednisolone improve or worsen left ventricular dysfunction in a mouse model of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy?
Does captopril or prednisolone improve or worsen left ventricular dysfunction in a mouse model of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy?
In a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, ACE inhibitors provided hemodynamic benefits while corticosteroids accelerated the progression of cardiomyopathy.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Cautions against corticosteroids in dystrophin-deficient models; leaves open translation of ACE-inhibitor benefits to human Duchenne cardiomyopathy.
Aims Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is associated with progressive cardiomyopathy. Oral corticosteroids are the gold standard for the treatment of skeletal muscle weakness; however, the effects of steroids on cardiac function have not been prospectively studied. In addition, the early role of ACE-inhibitors (ACE-I) is controversial. We aimed to determine the effects of steroids and ACE-I on development of left ventricular dysfunction in the mdx mouse, a model for dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy. Methods and results Orally administered captopril or prednisolone was given for 8 weeks to 16-week-old, male mdx mice. In vivo pressure–volume loops, fibrosis, in vivo myocyte sarcolemmal injury, and cytokine expression were assessed in treated and untreated mdx mice and age-matched controls. Untreated mdx mice showed compensated cardiomyopathy with reduced myocardial contractility, patchy myocardial fibrosis but preserved stroke volume. Captopril treatment resulted in indirect myocardial effects of reduced afterload and direct effects of increased contractility. Prednisolone caused acute sarcolemmal injury, increased expression of myocardial TNF alpha and fibrosis, resulting in left ventricular dilatation and diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion In a mouse model of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy, ACE-I produced haemodynamic benefit, whereas steroids accelerated progression of cardiomyopathy. Although mouse models may not entirely replicate the human condition, comprehensive monitoring of cardiac function with these therapies is essential.
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Bauer et al. (2009) studied Dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy. Captopril or Prednisolone vs. Untreated mdx mice and age-matched controls was evaluated on Left ventricular dysfunction (in vivo pressure-volume loops, fibrosis, sarcolemmal injury, cytokine expression). In an mdx mouse model, captopril produced haemodynamic benefits, whereas prednisolone accelerated progression of cardiomyopathy by causing acute sarcolemmal injury, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction.
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