Effects of excess iron on some cardiac hemodynamics, electrical and biochemical parameters

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the role of iron overload in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease and assess the possible protective effect of desferrioxamine [desferal]. Changes in arterial blood pressure [ABP], ECG as well as plasma levels of creatine kinase [CK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], total iron and total iron binding capacity [TIBC] were determined. Albino rats were used and divided into four groups. Iron overload resulted in myocardial dysfunction evidenced by the significant increase in plasma levels of CK, LDH and TC, associated with significant increase in total iron and TIBC. The ECG tracing showed prolongation of Q-T intervals. Desferal treatment appeared to be of a protective value against iron induced hazards manifested by a decrease in the chemical markers of injury, LDH and associated with significant decrease in total iron and TIBC. Voltage generation in the heart was improved as evident by the significant increase in the R-wave voltage. The deleterious effect of iron-overload on the myocardial function and its amelioration by desferal suggested a causal relationship between iron and ischemic disease