Spironolactone reduces fibrosis of dilated atria during heart failure in rats with myocardial infarction

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Abstract
Aims Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with severe structural changes of atria, contributing to impaired atrial function and the risk of arrhythmia. This study investigated the effects of CHF treatments on atrial remodelling. Methods and results Three months after myocardial infarction (MI), rats were treated for 1 month with spironolactone, lisinopril, or atenolol alone or in combination. Echocardiography–Doppler tissue imaging, haemodynamic measurements, and 24-h Holter monitoring were used to characterize the cardiomyopathy. Atrial fibrosis was quantified with Picrosirius Red staining. Left atrial diameter was increased (5.8±0.6 mm in MI vs. 3.6±0.3 mm in sham; PPConclusion Atrial fibrosis caused by chronic CHF is reduced by spironolactone.