title: Mechanism of action of beta-blocking agents in heart failure.
abstract: Antiadrenergic treatment is currently an emerging and very promising approach to the treatment of chronic heart failure. Although the adrenergic nervous system can be pharmacologically inhibited at multiple levels, it is the use of receptor-blocking agents that has generated the most interest and provided the most data for the "proof of concept" of this approach. In part because antiadrenergic treatment of chronic heart failure has developed in an atmosphere in which it was initially considered to be contraindicated (i.e., before Phase III clinical trials could be initiated), a large body of hypothesis-driven basic and clinical investigation was required to define the overall rationale and demonstrate feasibility. This article will review these data and propose a single primary mechanism of action to explain most of the clinical benefits of these agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver 80262, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bristow
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta