Using contrast-enhanced computed tomography, the effects of beta-
adrenergic blockade were assessed on experimentally produced
myocardial infarcts in dogs evaluated serially over the course of approximately 1 month.
Infarct size, initial perfusion defect (jeopardized segment) and noninfarcted muscle mass were studied in two groups of conditioned mongrel dogs. Group 1 (n = 11) served as the control group and Group 2 (n = 10) was pretreated with
propranolol (2 mg/kg). Each animal in the
propranolol-treated group was given identical amounts of the agent twice daily for 7 days after
coronary occlusion. Both groups developed increases in the noninfarcted muscle mass of the left ventricle (compensatory
hypertrophy). The mean increase averaged 19.8% over 30 days when the two groups were included together.
Infarct size was smaller in the
propranolol-treated group, and averaged 28% less (p less than 0.05) than that of the control group 30 days after initial
myocardial infarction. Thus, pharmacologic interventions were shown by computed tomography to alter the size of an acute experimental
myocardial infarct, particularly when examined over the time course of
infarct healing. Moreover, compensatory
hypertrophy occurred in both the control and
propranolol-treated groups.