Are all beta-blockers the same for chronic heart failure?
beta-Adrenergic receptor blockade has been conclusively proven to increase survival and morbidity in patients with heart failure. Hospitalization rate decreases and patients feel better after receiving beta-blockers. Furthermore, this benefit is observed in a wide range of patients. The beta-blockers bisoprolol, metoprolol, and carvedilol have been extensively evaluated in heart failure patients. These drugs all show marked benefit. Bucindolol, an investigational beta-blocker, showed only mild improvement in survival in patients with heart failure. The beta-blockers differ regarding beta-selectivity, vasodilation properties, and perhaps other ancillary properties. At present, the importance and consequences of these differences are unknown.
Gottlieb
S S
SS
Division of Cardiology, University of Maryland Medical Systems, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. sgottlie@medicine.umaryland.edu
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists