title: Acute and long-term hemodynamic effects of oral pirbuterol in patients with chronic severe congestive heart failure: randomized double-blind trial.
abstract: In 20 patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), we studied the effects of the beta-adrenergic agonist pirbuterol compared to placebo in both an acute double-blind randomized trial and after long-term treatment. Acutely, pirbuterol patients (n = 10) demonstrated a significant rise in cardiac index (2.2 +/- 0.14 to 3.2 +/- 0.32 L/min/m2), stroke index (26 +/- 2.6 to 35 +/- 2.9 ml/beat/m2), stroke work index (22 +/- 2.4 to 30 +/- 2.7 gm X m/m2), and ejection fraction (22 +/- 4 to 30 +/- 5%). These hemodynamic variables did not significantly change in placebo patients (n = 10). After 3 weeks of pirbuterol therapy, 14 patients (70%) were symptomatically improved and were continued on the drug for another 3 weeks; 13 of 14 patients who were symptomatically improved underwent restudy. Compared to pretreatment baseline, there was continued improvement in cardiac index (2.5 +/- 0.16 to 3.2 +/- 0.24 L/min/m2), stroke index (30 +/- 2.5 to 38 +/- 2.9 ml/beat/m2), stroke work index (26 +/- 2.3 to 35 +/- 3.1 gm X m/m2), and ejection fraction (24 +/- 1 to 28 +/- 4%). Patients more frequently improved were those with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and those with higher initial ejection fractions. These results demonstrate the acute beneficial effects of oral pirbuterol versus placebo in a double-blind randomized trial. Improvement was maintained during long-term therapy in the majority of CHF patients.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011897:Random Allocation; D013318:Stroke Volume
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D010919:Placebos; C009118:pirbuterol