Experimental Evaluation of Cardioplexol Compared to Pure Ischemia

Background: Clinical studies indicate encouraging cardioprotective potential for a new crystalloid cardioplegia (“Cardioplexol”). In an experimental setting, we investigated its cardioprotective capacities during 45 minutes of normothermic ischemia compared with pure ischemia.

Method: Twenty-two rat hearts were isolated and inserted into a blood perfused pressure controlled Langendorff apparatus. These hearts underwent either cardiac arrest induced by single shot application of Cardioplexol (CP-45′) or pure ischemia (no-flow-45′). During 90 minutes of reperfusion, parameters of cardiac function, and metabolism were evaluated, and troponin I levels were measured. At the end of reperfusion, hearts were fixed, and ultrastructural integrity was examined by electron microscopy.

Results: Baseline values were comparable in both groups. After 90 minutes of reperfusion, hearts exposed to Cardioplexol revealed significantly higher values of left ventricular developed pressure (CP-45′: 74% BL vs. no-flow-45′: 45% BL; p = 0.0458) and significantly faster time of maximal left ventricular relaxation (CP-45′: 84% BL versus no-flow-45′: 51% BL; p = 0.0123). Other functional parameters revealed no statistical superiority of Cardioplexol.

Ultrastructural integrity was better preserved in hearts exposed to Cardioplexol seen in lower cellular edema score (CEI) (CP-45′: 0.64 vs. no-flow-45′: 0.76; p = 0.333). Nevertheless, troponin I levels at the end of reperfusion under Cardioplexol were slightly higher than in no-flow-45′ (CP-45′: 149.8 vs. no-flow-45′: 98.89 ng/mL; p = 0.1637).

Conclusion: Cardioplexol significantly improves cardiac recovery after 45 minutes of ischemia compared with pure ischemia. Nevertheless, the use of Cardioplexol had no beneficial effect on myocardial preservation, the prevention of ischemic contractures, and ultrastructural integrity.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
28 January 2023