Early intervention with propranolol after acute myocardial infarction: serial left ventricular function determined by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography.
Fifty patients (mean age 48.6 +/- 9.4 years) with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to propranolol therapy (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) in a double-blind manner within 24 hours of their presentation with acute symptoms. M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography were performed at one week and three months to evaluate the left ventricular function. A comparison of the two groups revealed that the group receiving propranolol had higher left ventricular ejection fraction (69% vs 52%, P less than 0.001), fractional shortening (32% vs 24%, P less than 0.01), lower mitral E-point septal separation (6 mm vs 14 mm, P less than 0.001) and wall motion abnormality score (2.5 vs 6.0, P less than 0.001) than the group receiving placebo therapy. At three months there was further significant improvement in wall motion abnormality score (1.1 vs 2.5, P less than 0.001) in the propranolol-treated group as compared to the placebo group, whereas the other parameters remained unchanged. We conclude that the left ventricular function detected by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography showed significant improvement in patients with acute myocardial infarction after early intervention with propranolol. This is possibly due to a reduction in the size of infarction.
Kaul
U A
UA
Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Verma
R
R
Garg
K C
KC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects
D011433:Propranolol