Hemodynamic effects of tezosentan, an intravenous dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in patients with class III to IV congestive heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-1, a powerful mediator of vasoconstriction, is increased in patients with congestive heart failure and appears to be a prognostic marker that strongly is correlated with the severity of disease. However, little is known about the potential immediate beneficial effects of acute blockade of the endothelin system in patients with symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. We assessed the hemodynamic effects and safety of tezosentan, an intravenous dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in patients with moderate to severe heart failure.


RESULTS
This randomized placebo-controlled study evaluated the hemodynamic effects of 6-hour infusions of tezosentan at 5, 20, 50, and 100 mg/h compared with placebo in 61 patients with New York Heart Association class III to IV heart failure. Plasma endothelin-1 and tezosentan concentrations were also determined. Treatment with tezosentan caused a dose-dependent increase in cardiac index ranging from 24.4% to 49.9% versus 3.0% with placebo. Tezosentan also dose-dependently reduced pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances, with no change in heart rate. No episodes of ventricular tachycardia or hypotension requiring drug termination were observed during tezosentan infusion. Tezosentan administration resulted in dose-related increased plasma endothelin-1 concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that tezosentan can be safely administered to patients with moderate to severe heart failure and that by virtue of its ability to antagonize the effects of endothelin-1, it induced vasodilatory responses leading to a significant improvement in cardiac index. Further studies are under way to determine the clinical effects of tezosentan in the setting of acute heart failure.
Torre-Amione
G
G
Winters Center for Heart Failure Research, the Eugene and Judith Campbell Laboratories for Cardiac Transplantation Research, Houston, Texas, USA. gtorre@bcm.tmc.edu
Young
J B
JB
Durand
J
J
Bozkurt
B
B
Mann
D L
DL
Kobrin
I
I
Pratt
C M
CM
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D011725:Pyridines; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D013777:Tetrazoles; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C120582:tezosentan