title: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers in long-term treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: This double-blind, randomized, long-term study investigated the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril and the beta-blocker metoprolol on clinical, hemodynamic, angiographic, and neurohormonal parameters in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and moderate cardiac functional impairment (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 35% +/- 6%). After 12 months of treatment, a 12% reduction in 24-hour heart rate was observed in both groups (p < 0.05), whereas heart rate during exercise was reduced only in the metoprolol group. Echocardiographic fractional shortening increased (enalapril: 17% +/- 6% to 21% +/- 7%; metoprolol: 21% +/- 9% to 29% +/- 7%; both p < 0.05), as did the angiographic LVEF (enalapril: 35% +/- 7% to 43% +/- 12%, p = 0.1; metoprolol: 34% +/- 7% to 44% +/- 9%, p < 0.05), whereas ventricular volume decreased. Initially, both groups were comparable in terms of all parameters investigated. After 12 months fractional shortening was greater, and the heart rate at 50 W was lower in the beta-blocker group. At the doses used, the effect of the beta-blocker on dilated cardiomyopathy with moderate functional impairment was at least as great as that of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Regitz-Zagrosek
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leuchs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krülls-Münch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004656:Enalapril; D008790:Metoprolol