The investigation of possible beneficial effects of gabapentin on adverse cardiac effects of high dose zoledronic acid: An experimental study

Abstract

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is prescribed for different kinds of clinic conditions to suppress osteoclastic activity and protect bone mineral density. However, some reports claim that ZA treatment can lead to adverse cardiac events. Gabapentin (GP), a widely prescribed agent for neuropathic pain, can ameliorate some other medical agents’ cardiac side effects, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to experimentally investigate the combined effect of ZA and GP on the myocardium. Four different groups were created with rats, as follows: I. Control (n:3): investigating the normal myocardial tissue in rat genus. II. Sham (n:4): weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline injection and daily 30 mg/ kg GP (oral gavage) for obtaining possible cardiac side effects of i.p. injection. III. ZA (n: 7): weekly 100 mg/kg i.p. ZA infusion for four weeks. IV. ZA+ GP (n : 7): weekly 100 mg/kg ZA (i.p.) and daily 30 mg/kg GP (oral gavage) utilized for four weeks. Histopathological examinations were made to obtain cardiac tissues at the end of the four weeks. A severe myocardial injury was detected in the ZA group. Regarding injury grade, high dose ZA leads to significant myocardial edema and cellular damage when compared with control subjects (p = 0.000). On the other hand, reduced damage was detected in ZA + GP Group when compare with ZA alone treated group (p = 0.030). Our results suggest that the possible cardiac side effects of ZA can be prevented or reduced by GP. However, more comprehensive studies are needed to elucidate this potential effect