A recent pre-clinical study showed that a new aminoindole derivative, SS-68, could effectively treat heart rhythm disorders by bringing the electrical activity of the heart back to normal.
Heart rhythm disorder, as known as cardiac arrhythmia, is a disorder that affects the normal heart rate. A normal resting heart rate for an adult ranges from60 to 100 beats per minute. With a heart rhythm disorder, the heart tends to beat too slow, too fast, or irregularly. It is caused when the electrical signal paths within the heart are interrupted or disturbed.
Risk for heart rhythm disorder
Millions of Canadians are currently experiencing irregular heart rhythms, killing 40,000 Canadians a year, according to the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada. With the aging of the Canadian population, this number is expected to increase. Many heart diseases and disorders can cause heart rhythm disorder, including coronary artery disease, past heart attack, high blood pressure, and valve disease.
Heart rhythm disorder may not cause any signs or symptoms, while some people may experience an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and paleness. This heart disease increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, and largely affecting the quality of one’s life.
Many drugs are available in treating and managing arrhythmias, by controlling the heart rate and rhythm or helping to prevent blood clots. However, existing antifibrillatory drugs have a narrow window between their effective doses and those at which they produce adverse toxic effects.
New compound to improve cardio-pharmacological activity
In a recent study published in the Journal of Research Results in Pharmacology, a group of researchers from Russia has developed a reliable model to turn to the aminoindole derivatives in exploring an alternative compound for improved cardio-pharmacological activity.
Having tested the derivatives on various conditions in different animals, the researchers found that a new compound, SS-68, can effectively bring the electrical activity of the heart back to normal. More excitingly, it has a better anti-arrhythmia effect than existing drugs such as amiodarone, lidocaine, aymaline, ethacizine, etmozine and quinidine anaprilin.
In brain injury-induced heart rhythm disorders, the researchers further observed that the compound can reduce spike waves, sharp waves, spike and wave activities. The compound also has a profound effect in treating clogged blood vessels by increasing the coronary blood flow.
SS-68 compound is a promising pharmacological agent in treating heart rhythm disorder. Further thorough research on the associated side effects and adverse events is still needed before we can conclude that this new compound is safe and effective.
Written by Man-tik Choy, Ph.D.
Reference: Bogus, S.K. 2-phenyl-1-(3-pyrrolidin-1-il-propyl)-1 H-indole hydrochloride (SS-68): Antiarrhythmic and cardioprotective activity and its molecular mechanisms of action (Part I). Research Results in Pharmacology, 4(2):133-150. DOI: 10.3897/rrpharmacology.4.28592
