Effects of short- and long-term carvedilol administration on rest and exercise hemodynamic variables, exercise capacity and clinical conditions in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
The study evaluated the effects of short- and long-term administration of carvedilol in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.


BACKGROUND
Carvedilol is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent with vasodilator activity that might be well tolerated in patients with heart failure.


METHODS
Forty patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy treated with digoxin, furosemide and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were randomized in a double-blind manner to receive either placebo or carvedilol. Right heart hemodynamic variables were evaluated up to 8 h after short-term drug administration and, on the next day, during cardiopulmonary exercise testing before and 3 h after drug ingestion. Placebo or carvedilol was added to standard therapy, starting with a dose of 6.25 mg twice a day with weekly increments up to the maximum of 25 mg twice a day. Patients were reevaluated after 4 months by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and measurement of right heart hemodynamic variables 12 h after last drug ingestion and 3 h after drug readministration. Left ventricular ejection fraction and volume, measured by equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography, quality of life and submaximal exercise duration were assessed before and after long-term therapy.


RESULTS
Compared with placebo, carvedilol produced a short-term reduction in heart rate and pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressures and, after long-term administration, increased both rest and peak exercise cardiac, stroke volume and stroke work indexes, with a further reduction in right atrial, pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressures. Long-term carvedilol administration also improved rest left ventricular ejection fraction (from 20 +/- 7% to 30 +/- 12%, p < 0.001), submaximal exercise capacity, quality of life and New York Heart Association functional class. No baseline variable was predictive of the response to therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term carvedilol administration reduces heart rate and mean pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressures, whereas it improves both long-term rest and exercise left ventricular systolic function, reduces heart failure symptoms and improves submaximal exercise tolerance in patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
Metra
M
M
Cattedra di Cardiologia, Università di Brescia, Italy.
Nardi
M
M
Giubbini
R
R
Dei Cas
L
L
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol