Abstract 18013: Tranilast Prevents Hypertensive Atrial Electrical and Structural Remodeling Independent of Systolic Blood Pressure Level: a Comparative Study with Blood Pressure Lowering Therapies

Introduction: Hypertension is a major independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether the abnormal atrial remodeling due to hypertension can be prevented or reversed remains poorly defined. Recent work suggests that anti-fibrotic drug, Tranilast, has beneficial effects in AF. Here, we compared the effects of Tranilast against blood pressure lowering therapies on the substrate for AF in hypertensive sheep. Methods: 39 sheep with induced ‘one-kidney, one-clip’ (1K1C) hypertension were studied: hypertensive controls (n=7) and hypertensive with Tranilast (600mg, orally, bd) treatment at 12 weeks; the remaining sheep were sequentially assigned to treatment with Amlodipine (10mg daily, n=6) or Atenolol (100mg daily, n=6) or clamp removal (n=6) for a further 16 weeks. 7 other sheep were included as normotensive controls. Open chest epicardial mapping was performed to assess atrial electrophysiological parameters: effective refractory period (ERP), conduction velocity/heterogeneity and AF inducibili...