Design of a prospective observational survey on landiolol in atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter patients with chronic heart failure – AF-CHF landiolol survey

An Overview of the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Landiolol (an Ultra-Short Acting β1 Selective Antagonist) in Atrial Fibrillation

Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting, selective β1-adrenergic receptor blocker that was originally approved in Japan for the treatment of intraoperative tachyarrhythmias. It has gained attention for its use in the management of tachyarrhythmias and perioperative tachycardia, especially atrial fibrillation for both cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. It can be the ideal agent for heart rate control due to its high β1-selectivity, potent negative chronotropic effect, a limited negative inotropic potential, and an ultrashort elimination half-life (around 4 min); moreover, it may have a potential therapeutic effects for sepsis and pediatric patients. Landiolol seems to be superior to other short-acting and selective beta-blockers such as esmolol. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of landiolol, a new ultra-short-acting β1 selective antagonist, including its pharmacology, clinical applications, efficacy, safety profile, and future directions in research and clinical data.

Mid-Term Prognosis After Landiolol Treatment in Atrial Fibrillation/Atrial Flutter Patients With Chronic Heart Failure - A Prospective Observational Survey (AF-CHF Landiolol Survey)

Background: The aim of the prospective post-marketing AF-CHF Landiolol Survey was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of landiolol for the treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in patients with cardiac dysfunction in clinical practice in Japan. This analysis reports mid-term prognoses with a focus on switching from landiolol to oral β-blockers.

Methods and Results: The AF-CHF Landiolol Survey took place between June 2014 and May 2016 and involved 1,121 patients with cardiac dysfunction and atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter. Data collected about switching from landiolol to oral β-blockers were analyzed in relation to all-cause mortality within 180 days after landiolol initiation. Among 1,002 patients with available follow-up data, the 6-month all-cause mortality rate was 14. 6% (n=146 patients), of whom 39.7% had died from heart failure (HF). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed significantly longer survival in patients who had switched to oral β-blockers vs. those who had not, with hazard ratios of 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28–0.55) for all-cause mortality and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.23–0.70) for death from HF. Only male sex and advanced age were independently associated with all-cause mortality and death from HF.

Conclusions: This large-scale routine practice survey of landiolol in HF patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter showed high mid-term all-cause mortality. Switching from landiolol to oral β-blockers was apparently, although not independently, associated with lower all-cause mortality and death from HF.

A prospective observational survey on landiolol in atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter patients with chronic heart failure - AF-CHF landiolol survey

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter occur commonly in patients with heart failure. Ultrashort-acting β-blockers, including landiolol, can rapidly control heart rate. As part of postmarketing surveillance for landiolol in Japan, a real-world drug-use survey (AF-CHF landiolol survey) was established for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in patients with heart failure. We report the safety and effectiveness of landiolol from this survey, focusing on adverse events/adverse drug reactions.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with cardiac dysfunction who received landiolol (continuous intravenous infusion, starting at 1μg/kg/min) for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in routine clinical practice in Japan were enrolled between June 2014 and May 2016. Safety variables included adverse events and adverse drug reactions (number of patients and events, incidence rate, types, seriousness). Effectiveness variables included the proportion of patients with a ≥20% decrease in heart rate.

RESULTS

Data were available for 1121 patients (safety analysis set); 888 patients were evaluable for effectiveness parameters. Mean (± standard deviation) patient age was 72.5±13.5 years, 57.2% were male. Most patients (84.2%) received landiolol for atrial fibrillation. Overall, 174 adverse events occurred in 140 patients (12.5%), including 105 serious adverse events. The most common type of adverse events was cardiac (60 events). Seventy-five events in 63 patients were categorized as adverse drug reactions (5.6% of patients). Mean heart rate decreased substantially after treatment with landiolol, by ≥20% in 77.5% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world setting in Japan, landiolol for the treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter with heart failure was acceptable without new safety concerns, and most patients achieved effective heart rate control during their arrhythmias.

Isoproterenol-induced cardiac ischemia and fibrosis: Plant-based approaches for intervention

Heart is the most active and incumbent organ of the body, which maintains blood flow, but due to various pathological reasons, several acute and chronic cardiac complications arise out of which myocardial infarction is one of the teething problems. Isoproterenol (ISP)-induced myocardial ischemia is a classical model to screen the cardioprotective effects of various pharmacological interventions. Phytochemicals present a novel option for treating various human maladies including those of the heart. A large number of plant products and their active ingredients have been screened for efficacy in ameliorating ISP-induced myocardial ischemia including coriander, curcumin, Momordica, quercetin, and Withania somnifera. These phytochemicals constituents may play key role in preventing disease and help in cardiac remodeling. Reactive oxygen species scavenging, antiinflammatory, and modulation of various molecular pathways such as Nrf2, NFкB, p-21 activated kinase 1 (PAK1), and p-smad2/3 signaling modulation have been implicated behind the claimed protection. In this review, we have provided a focused overview on the utility of ISP-induced cardiotoxicity, myocardial ischemia, and cardiac fibrosis for preclinical research. In addition, we have also surveyed molecular mechanism of various plant-based interventions screened for cardioprotective effect in ISP-induced cardiotoxicity, and their probable mechanistic profile is summarized.

Study design for control of HEART rate in inFant and child tachyarrhythmia with heart failure Using Landiolol (HEARTFUL): A prospective, multicenter, uncontrolled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Persistent tachycardia in pediatric patients after congenital heart surgery further deteriorates their hemodynamic condition, and may become fatal. Therefore, immediate control of the tachycardia is mandatory in these patients. For this purpose, quick-acting, short-acting, titratable intravenous agents are required. However, there are no agents with such characteristics among the drugs approved for control of pediatric arrhythmias in Japan, and thus novel and effective medications for these patients are awaited. Landiolol, an ultrashort-acting β-blocker, was approved in 2013 for tachyarrhythmias in adult patients with heart failure. However, its efficacy and safety in pediatric patients remain unclear. The aim of this prospective, multicenter, open-label phase IIb/III study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of landiolol in pediatric patients with tachyarrhythmias as well as heart failure.

METHODS

Eligible patients are aged ≥ 3 months and <15 years, and have tachyarrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia) as well as heart failure. The primary endpoint of the study is ≥20% reduction from baseline heart rate or return to normal sinus rhythm within 2h after starting intravenous administration of landiolol. Patients will receive intravenous infusion of landiolol, starting at 1μg/kg/min. The dose will be increased by 1μg/kg/min every 15-20min until the tachycardia rate has decreased by >20% or tachycardia has terminated, and the dose will then be maintained or further increased depending on the patient's condition. The study was started in April 2015 and will end within a few years.

CONCLUSIONS

The study was designed and designated the "HEARTFUL study" in the hope of establishing a basis for control of HEART rate in inFant and child tachyarrhythmia Using Landiolol in children with heart failure.

Alteration of fatal 1:1 conducted atrial flutter to less conducted ratio by landiolol infusion

An 84-year-old male patient with a past history of atrial-flutter-fibrillation and dementia underwent an urgent femoral neck fracture surgery. Preoperative electrocardiography demonstrated atrial flutter (AFL) with ventricular conduction at a ratio of 2:1-4:1, and transthoracic echocardiography showed severe left ventricular dysfunction with Ejection Fraction of 14.6 %. Femoral nerve block and Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block with sedation was planned for the surgery. Upon entry to the operating room, ECG showed 2:1 conducted AFL at the rate of 128 beats min(-1). Due to the stimulation of urethral catheter insertion, it has altered to 1:1 conducted AFL. Loading dose of landiolol hydrochloride 7.5 mg followed by 1.5-3 μg/kg/min continuous administration was given, which had decreased the conduction ratio to 2:1 without causing hypotension. A further episode of 1:1 conducted AFL occurred when the pin was inserted to the thighbone, which caused circulatory collapse. Additional bolus dose of landiolol immediately altered it to 2:1 before operating cardioversion and stabilized the hemodynamics. He maintained AFL with 2:1 conduction thereafter, and 1:1 conduction was never seen postoperatively even after discontinuation of landiolol.