Novel beta-blocker pretreatment prevents alcohol-induced atrial fibrillation in a rat modelKey Findings

Hebah Hassan, BS; Lisa V. Greco, MS; Daniel I. Meshoyrer, DO; Ying Li, BS; Youhua Zhang, MD, PhD; Todd J. Cohen, MD, FHRS

Heart Rhythm O2 (Jun 2020)

Novel beta-blocker pretreatment prevents alcohol-induced atrial fibrillation in a rat modelKey Findings

Hebah Hassan, BS,
Lisa V. Greco, MS,
Daniel I. Meshoyrer, DO,
Ying Li, BS,
Youhua Zhang, MD, PhD,
Todd J. Cohen, MD, FHRS

Affiliations

Hebah Hassan, BS: Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York
Lisa V. Greco, MS: Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York
Daniel I. Meshoyrer, DO: Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York
Ying Li, BS: Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York
Youhua Zhang, MD, PhD: Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York; Dr Youhua Zhang, Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000, Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000.
Todd J. Cohen, MD, FHRS: Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York; Address reprint requests and correspondence: Dr Todd J. Cohen, Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, 218 Serota Building, Northern Blvd, Old Westbury, NY 11568.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 2
pp. 120 – 125

Abstract

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Background: A case report published in 2019 described a patient who presented with difficult-to-manage atrial fibrillation (AF) that consistently was associated with alcohol consumption. After the patient did not respond to drug therapy, a novel beta-blocker (BB) pretreatment regimen initiated immediately before alcohol consumption successfully prevented AF occurrence. Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a novel prophylactic BB therapy given before alcohol consumption could prevent AF in a rat model. Methods: An alcohol-induced AF model was developed in adult Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes by administering alcohol (2 g/kg intraperitoneal [IP]) once every other day for a total of 4 times. Three groups were enrolled: alcohol (EtOH; n = 10); alcohol plus BB (metoprolol 50 mg/kg IP) pretreatment (EtOH+BB; n = 10); and control (n = 9). Cardiac function (assessed by echocardiography and left ventricular hemodynamics) and in vivo atrial electrophysiology and AF inducibility tests were performed 24 hours after the last injection. Results: All but 1 rat completed the study. Alcohol exposure did not significantly impact cardiac function and the atrial effective refractory period. However, alcohol exposure significantly increased AF inducibility [median (first and third quartile [Q1–Q3]) 0% (0%–0%) in control vs 60% (25%–100%) in the EtOH group; P <.05] and AF duration [0 second (0–0 second) in control vs 0.81 second (0.24–3.67 seconds) in the EtOH group; P <.05]. Compared to the EtOH group, the EtOH+BB group had significantly reduced AF inducibility [0% (0%–22.5%); P <.05] and duration [0 second (0–0.2 second); P <.05]. Conclusion: Metoprolol pretreatment before alcohol administration significantly decreased AF induction in rats. These findings suggest that BB pretreatment is a promising prophylaxis regimen for alcohol-induced AF.

Published in Heart Rhythm O2

ISSN: 2666-5018 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/heart-rhythm-o2

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