Open AccessMicrophysiology of the pericardium in relation to intrapericardial therapeutics and diagnostics
Author(s) -
Spodick David H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960221303
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardium , pericardial fluid , cardiology , cardiopulmonary bypass , nitric oxide
Intrapericardial delivery of therapeutic agents for pericardial diseases has long been available in the presence of excess pericardial fluid. Most patients with myocardial and coronary disease have no such excess so that their direct treatment requires pericardial access, for which a new instrument has succeeded in animals with induced infarctions, coronary lesions and arrhythmias. Nitric oxide (NO) donors, calcium‐avid drugs, antibodies, angiogenic agents (pharmacologic coronary bypass), and hypothermic solutions have been instilled intrapericardially, and even iontophoresis has been used; gene therapy is also promising. Intrinsic pericardiogenic substances may potentially be stimulated for comparable purposes.