Effects of carvedilol in heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Results of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study (CARIBE study).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of carvedilol in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.


METHODS
In a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study, 30 patients (7 women) with functional class II and III heart failure were assessed. Their ages ranged from 28 to 66 years (mean of 43 +/- 9 years), and their left ventricular ejection fraction varied from 8% to 35%. Carvedilol was added to the usual therapy of 20 patients; placebo was added to the usual therapy of 10 patients. The initial dose of carvedilol was 12.5 mg, which was increased weekly until it reached 75 mg/day, according to the patient's tolerance. Clinical assessment, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and radionuclide ventriculography were performed in the pretreatment phase, being repeated after 2 and 6 months of medication use.


RESULTS
A reduction in heart rate (p = 0.016) as well as an increase in left ventricular shortening fraction (p = 0.02) and in left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.017) occurred in the group using carvedilol as compared with that using placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Carvedilol added to the usual therapy for heart failure resulted in better heart function.
Chizzola
P R
PR
Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas-FMUSP, Brazil.
Freitas
H F
HF
Caldas
M A
MA
da Costa
J M
JM
Meneghetti
C
C
Marinho
N V
NV
Mansur
A J
AJ
Ramires
J A
JA
Bocchi
E A
EA
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol