title: A randomized trial of low-dose beta-blockade therapy for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Beta-blockade therapy to improve survival in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) has been both advocated and criticized. However, randomized studies have not been performed. Thus, 50 patients with IDC were randomized in pairs to standard therapy (C) alone or with beta blockade (BB). Beta-blockade therapy with metoprolol was titrated from 12.5 to 50 mg twice daily as tolerated (final average dose, 61 mg/day). Groups were comparable in age (C, 50 +/- 15 years; BB, 51 +/- 13 years), gender (C, 76% male; BB, 56% male), entry functional class (C, 2.8 +/- 0.8; BB, 2.7 +/- 0.7), and left ventricular ejection fraction (C, 27 +/- 12%; BB, 29 +/- 10%). Follow-up averaged 19 months (range 1 to 38). One subject in each group was lost to follow-up. There were 3 early BB dropouts (within 2 days) due to low-output syndrome (2 patients) or fatigue (1 patient). Eleven patients died. By intention to treat, 5 BB and 6 C patients died (difference not significant). By actual treatment, 3 BB patients died, including 2 late dropouts (at 0.2, 10 and 17 months), and 8 C patients died (at 2, 9, 9, 15, 18, 24, 29 and 32 months, p = 0.12). In additional, functional evaluation on follow-up (functional class, San Diego questionnaire and exercise time) all tended to favor those receiving BB. Low-dose BB is tolerated in 80% of IDC patients on a long-term basis. Those continuing to take BB have a good prognosis. Mortality in C patients, however, is less than in some retrospective studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Yanowitz
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Menlove
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists