Beneficial effects of cocarboxylase in the treatment of experimental myocardial infarction in dogs.

Cocarboxylase, or thiamine pyrophosphate, is an essential coenzyme in the catabolism of pyruvate. The authors evaluated the effects of a stable cocarboxylase solution in the treatment of an experimentally created acute myocardial infarction in 14 healthy mongrel dogs. The left anterior descending artery was ligated for 60 minutes and data were collected at the following points: A) prior to ligation, B) 15 minutes after ligation, C) 30 minutes after ligation, and D) 60 minutes after ligation. In one group (Group II), cocarboxylase (150 mgm/kg) was given systematically via a central line 15 minutes and 45 minutes after ligation, while in Group I an equal amount of D5W was given. Hemodynamic data include heart rate, systolic and mean arterial pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure, right arterial pressure, and cardiac output. Myocardial O2 consumption was determined by the method of Rooke and Feigl. Electrocardiographic data were also monitored throughout the experiment. In both groups, preligation (point A) hemodynamic data were similar. In Group II, there were beneficial hemodynamic changes versus Group I (expressed as percentage recovery of hemodynamic performance from preligation) at points C and D, with significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in heart rate, increased stroke volume, decreased systemic vascular resistance, and decreased myocardial O2 consumption. EKG criteria also showed improvement in Group II versus Group I. In conclusion, this experiment suggests that cocarboxylase may be beneficial to ischemic canine myocardium by virtue of its favorable systemic hemodynamic effects.