Beta-blockade and mechanisms of disease.
In this review an attempt has been made to define the contribution of beta-antagonists to out understanding of the mechanisms of disease. It is concluded that beta-antagonists, and propranolol in particular, have clarified mechanisms in angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias and some aspects of essential hypertension as well as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The study of beta-antagonists in anxiety states shows that they can help to define the somatic component but give no clue as to central mechanisms involved. There is no substantial evidence that beta-antogonists are of value in the psychoses and these negative findings suggest that disturbances of brain catecholamines contribute little to the pathogenesis of these conditions.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002395:Catecholamines; D012083:Renin