title: Clinical efficacy and safety of pimobendan in treatment of heart failure--experience in Japan.
abstract: The results of Japanese studies on the clinical efficacy and safety of pimobendan in the treatment of heart failure are summarized in this paper. In patients with acute heart failure, a single oral 2.5 mg dose of pimobendan produced a significant increase in cardiac index (27.9%) and stroke volume index (24.4%), as well as a significant decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-21.3%). A single oral 5.0 mg dose of pimobendan increased anaerobic threshold during exercise (7.3%). In a multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 8 weeks of treatment with pimobendan 2.5 mg b.i.d., which was suggested to be the optimal dose in a preceding dose-finding study, definitely improved symptoms and signs of heart failure in 52.6% of patients, and New York Heart Association function class in 64.1% of patients. This regimen was also associated with a significantly greater increase in physical activity than placebo. Furthermore, another double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggested that pimobendan 1.25 mg and 2.5 mg b.i.d. may have long-term beneficial effects on morbidity and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Adverse reactions developed in 26 of 241 (10.8%) patients receiving multiple doses of pimobendan, but none of the reactions were serious. It is concluded that pimobendan may be useful in the treatment of patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011724:Pyridazines; C041648:pimobendan