title: Do partial agonist beta-blockers have improved clinical utility?
abstract: Although beta-blockers were introduced into clinical medicine 30 thirty years ago, controversy continues as to the optimal pharmacodynamic profile of such agents. This commentary reviews the development of beta-blockers with partial agonist properties in the context of a recent study on epanolol. The influence of partial agonism on the efficacy and tolerability of beta-blockers is summarized, and it is concluded that, in general, there is little convincing evidence from controlled clinical studies that partial agonism confers significant clinical benefit over full antagonists.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists