Premium
Amiodarone causes endothelium‐dependent vasodilation in human hand veins in vivo *
Author(s) -
Grossmann Matthias,
Dobrev Dobromir,
Kirch Wilhelm
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1016/s0009-9236(98)90179-5
Subject(s) - vasodilation , in vivo , endothelium , amiodarone , pharmacology , medicine , chemistry , cardiology , biology , atrial fibrillation , microbiology and biotechnology
Objective Amiodarone, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, is a potent coronary vasodilator. However, direct evidence for its vasodilatory effects in human vasculature in vivo is not available. The aim of the study was to investigate the short‐term effects of amiodarone in preconstricted human hand veins and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Thirty‐one healthy male volunteers were studied with use of the dorsal hand vein compliance technique. The hand veins of the subjects were preconstricted with the α 1 ‐adrenergic receptor agonist phenylephrine, and amiodarone, inhibitors of nitric oxide formation ( N G ‐monomethyl‐ L ‐arginine, L ‐NMMA), and adenosine triphosphate‐dependent potassium channels (glyburide [INN, glibenclamide]) were infused in the presence or absence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (acetylsalicylic acid), and the venodilator effect was measured. Furthermore, amiodarone was infused in prostaglandin F 2α (dinoprost)‐preconstricted hand veins. Results Amiodarone produced dose‐dependent venodilation (51% ± 3% maximum). Maximum amiodarone‐induced venodilation was lower in dinoprost compared with phenylephrine‐preconstricted veins. Pretreatment with acetylsalicylic acid reduced the amiodarone‐induced venodilation by 40% ± 6%. L ‐NMMA reduced the amiodarone‐induced venodilation after pretreatment with acetylsalicylic acid by 72% ± 3%. Glyburide decreased the venodilatory response of amiodarone by 31% ± 11%, whereas only a slight but not statistically significant additional reduction in venodilation was detected after pretreatment with acetylsalicylic acid. Infusion of the solvents of commercially available amiodarone (polysorbate 80 and benzyl alcohol) did not cause vasodilation in phenylephrine‐preconstricted veins. Conclusions Amiodarone dilates preconstricted human hand veins in vivo and acts as a venodilator through the cyclooxygenase pathway, activation of nitric oxide synthase, and blockade of α‐adrenergic mechanisms. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1998) 64 , 302–311; doi: