comprehensive-echocardiographic-assessment-right-ventricle-function

Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricle Function in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease caused by vasoconstriction and remodeling of the small arteries in the lungs. This ...

CorDynamics, Inc.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a serious complication of the use of iodinated contrast agents. This problem is particularly acute in interventional neurology and interventional cardiology, probably due to the intra-arterial route of injection, high contrast volumes, and preexisting risk factors of these patients. In an attempt to develop a contrast agent that is less damaging to the kidneys, we have studied the effects of adding a small amount of the substituted cyclodextrin, sulfobutyl-ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD), to iohexol in rodent models of renal toxicity.

Preclinical Studies of a Kidney Safe Iodinated Contrast Agent.

Triptans are 5-HT receptor agonists (that also display 5-HT receptor affinity) with antimigraine action, contraindicated in patients with coronary artery disease due to their vasoconstrictor properties. Conversely, lasmiditan was developed as an antimigraine 5-HT receptor agonist. To assess the selectivity and cardiovascular effects of lasmiditan, we investigated the binding, functional activity, and in vitro/in vivo vascular effects of lasmiditan and compared it to sumatriptan.

Characterization of binding, functional activity, and contractile responses of the selective 5-HT receptor agonist lasmiditan.

Evaluation and treatment of acute ischemic syndromes, in the heart and brain, require vessel visualization by iodinated X-ray contrast agents. However, these contrast agents can induce injury, in both the kidneys and target organs themselves. Sulfobutylether beta cyclodextrin (SBECD) added to iohexol (SBECD-iohexol) (Captisol Enabled-iohexol, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA) is currently in clinical trials in cardiovascular procedures, to determine its relative renal safety in high-risk patients. Preclinical studies showed that SBECD-iohexol reduced contrast-induced acute kidney injury in rodent models by blocking apoptosis. The current study was undertaken to determine whether SBECD-iohexol is also cardioprotective, in the male rat ischemia-reperfusion model, compared to iohexol alone.

Michael R. Gralinski

CorDynamics, Inc.

Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricle Function in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension