August 6, 2012

Angina medicine could protect from carbon monoxide poisoning

Scientists funded by us have found that a commonly-used drug for treating angina could help protect the heart from damage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is difficult for people to detect – it can be produced by faulty gas appliances such as heaters. Poisoning from the gas causes 1.6 million deaths worldwide every year – it causes many people to develop heart rhythm problems called arrhythmias which, if left untreated, can be fatal.

The team, made up of scientists from around the world but led by the University of Leeds, looked at how carbon monoxide triggers these arrhythmias.

The researchers have improved our understanding of the damage that occurs in the heart’s cells after breathing in carbon monoxide. This is vital if we are to develop effective treatments.

Old drugs, new tricks

Thanks to their findings, the group tested a drug in rats they knew neutralised the effect they saw in heart cells exposed to carbon monoxide. This drug, ranolazine, is a treatment approved for use against angina in the US – it markedly reduced the chance of an arrhythmia developing in rats.

Our Research Advisor, Dr Hélène Wilson, said:                                                    

This study has uncovered the ability of an old drug to perform a new trick

“This study is a good example of research being used to better understand the underlying causes of an abnormal heart rhythm and in this case it has uncovered the ability of an old drug to perform a new trick. Carbon monoxide poisoning is tragically common but hopefully these promising results can be replicated in people so that it saves lives in the future."

Learn more about how our scientists are helping beat heart disease.

The research was published in the scientific journal American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.