Established beta-adrenergic receptor blocking therapy and acute myocardial infarction. A clinical study of risks and benefits.
In order to evaluate the risks and benefits of continuing established therapy with beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs during acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 183 consecutive patients, 63 with (beta-blocker group) and 120 without (control group) this therapy, were studied. Detailed information on previous diseases, present symptoms, established medication, clinical and laboratory findings on admission and during the first 12 hours in the CCU was collected. The incidences of congestive heart failure, hypotension, AV blocks and ventricular arrhythmias were not significantly more common in the control group (8 vs. 28%, p less than 0.01). Thus, continuation of established therapy with beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs does not seem to increase the risk of complications after hospital admission for AMI. The reason for the low incidence of inferior wall infarction in the beta-blocker group is not clear but it cannot be excluded that when patients on beta-adrenergic receptor blocking therapy develop an inferior AMI, they may run a greater risk of sudden death.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000526:Alprenolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012306:Risk
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000526:Alprenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D008790:Metoprolol