title: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pimobendan, a new cardiotonic and vasodilator agent, in patients with severe congestive heart failure.
abstract: Pimobendan, a new oral cardiotonic and vasodilator agent, increases myocardial contractile force through specific inhibition of phosphodiesterase type III and increased calcium sensitivity of the myocardial contractile elements. The effects of pimobendan on left ventricular performance and maximal exercise capacity were studied in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 52 patients with severe congestive heart failure despite diuretics, digoxin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The acute hemodynamic evaluation included three single doses of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg of oral pimobendan, which was subsequently administered at a daily dose of 5 or 10 mg for 4 weeks. Acute administration of pimobendan significantly increased the resting cardiac index and lowered pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in a dose-dependent manner, whereas heart rate and systemic arterial pressure were not substantially altered. Patients receiving pimobendan, 5 and 10 mg daily, had a significantly greater increase in maximal exercise duration than those receiving placebo, that is, 144 +/- 30 and 124 +/- 33 seconds versus 58 +/- 25 seconds (p = 0.05). Peak oxygen uptake increased by 1.7 +/- 0.8 and 2.2 +/- 1.3 ml/kg/min in patients receiving pimobendan at a daily dose of 5 and 10 mg, respectively, whereas it decreased by 0.1 +/- 0.6 ml/kg/min in patients receiving placebo (p = 0.06). Thus pimobendan acutely improves resting left ventricular performance and chronically increases exercise duration and peak oxygen uptake in patients with severe congestive heart failure concomitantly treated with digoxin, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jessup
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brozena
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Troha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Sonnenblick
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: LeJemtel
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C041648:pimobendan