June 1, 1983Open Access
View Full PaperIndomethacin-induced scar thinning after experimental myocardial infarction.
Key Result
Indomethacin administration early after experimental myocardial infarction resulted in marked scar thinning compared to saline (3.56 mm vs 7.24 mm; p<0.001).
Structured PICO
Does indomethacin reduce scar thickness in dogs with experimental myocardial infarction?
P
Population
21 anesthetized, open-chest dogs with experimental myocardial infarction followed for 6 weeks.
I
Intervention
Indomethacin 10 mg/kg i.v. given 15 minutes and 3 hours after occlusion
C
Comparator
Saline given 15 minutes and 3 hours after occlusion
O
Outcome
Average thickness of the transmural scar and the noninfarcted left ventricular wall, and the ratio of the thickness of the transmural scar to the noninfarcted wall at 6 weekssurrogate
Early administration of indomethacin after experimental myocardial infarction leads to marked scar thinning, which may have implications for post-MI remodeling and healing.
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 3.56% vs 7.24%
p-value: p=<0.001
Abstract
We investigated the effect of indomethacin, a widely used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, on the healing of myocardial infarction (MI). Experimental MI was produced in anesthetized, open-chest dogs by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery. Ten dogs received indomethacin, 10 mg/kg i.v., and 11 received saline, 15 minutes and 3 hours after occlusion. After 6 weeks, the dogs were killed and their hearts were subjected to morphologic and biochemical analysis. The average thickness of the transmural scar and the noninfarcted left ventricular wall was measured at multiple sites in formalin-fixed left ventricular slices and the ratio of the thickness of the transmural scar to the noninfarcted wall determined. The average thickness of the noninfarcted wall was 8.80 +/- 0.19 mm (mean +/- SEM) in the control group and 8.44 +/- 0.26 mm in the indomethacin group (NS). The scar thickness was 7.24 +/- 0.64 mm in the control group and 3.56 +/- 0.40 mm in the indomethacin group (p less than 0.001). The ratio of scar to noninfarcted wall thickness was 0.83 +/- 0.07 in the control group and 0.43 +/- 0.04 in the indomethacin group (p less than 0.001). Scars in treated dogs did not differ from controls either by light microscopic histologic analysis or by analysis of hydroxyproline content per unit weight. We conclude that indomethacin results in marked scar thinning when given early after experimental MI.