title: Impact of pharmacotherapy on lymphocyte volumes and activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger in patients with congestive heart failure.
abstract: Previous studies in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have revealed abnormalities of cellular volume that might have an impact on the dysregulation of peripheral vascular resistance. Human mononuclear leukocytes (HML) represent a model for the study of cellular volume regulation. We investigated the impact of enalapril and carvedilol on HML volume and on the activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger in 26 patients with CHF and 20 volunteers. Over a period of 4 weeks, 18 patients received enalapril in addition to the previous therapy while 8 patients additionally received carvedilol. HML diameters and the activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger were measured by a Coulter Counter. Both patient groups showed abnormally increased initial volumes of HML compared to the volunteer group at baseline. Four weeks of therapy with enalapril in addition to therapy with diuretics and digoxin did not result in a statistically significant reduction of lymphocyte volume, whereas add-on therapy with carvedilol to therapy with ACE inhibitors, diuretics and digoxin reduced the volume significantly. Alterations could not be found in the activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger in either patient group compared to volunteers. Supplementary drug therapy with carvedilol in patients with CHF leads to a reduction of the increased lymphocytic volume, possibly reflecting the beneficial effect of beta-blockade.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuring
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jester
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tillmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bertsch
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002227:Carbazoles; D004232:Diuretics; D011412:Propanolamines; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004656:Enalapril; D004077:Digoxin