Beta-blockers in heart failure.
The problem of heart failure (HF) has become a topic of great interest. Until recently, the use of beta-blockers in patients with HF was considered as one of the contraindications which were taught to medical students as realities with a strict policy to avoid them in HF patients. Times have changed and the contraindicated drug is now an advised and preferred one to be used in HF patients with certain advised recommendations for its use in a safe and beneficial way. Even though the use of beta-blockers in HF patients is an important and necessary step towards an optimal treatment of these patients as most of the big studies have proved, still we need to emphasize these benefits in order to achieve more application of these agents in HF patients. Here we analyse the major studies which used beta-blockers in HF patients. It seems that beta-blockers have to be used in all patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction unless a real contraindication exists as they bring up a great benefit towards decreasing mortality and morbidity.
Sleiman
O I
OI
Ist Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia. Ossamasleiman@hotmail.com
Murin
J
J
Ghanem
W M
WM
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017298:Bisoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077261:Carvedilol; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D008790:Metoprolol; D017298:Bisoprolol