title: The incomplete bucindolol evaluation in acute myocardial infarction Trial (BEAT).
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding the beta-blocker bucindolol to standard therapy shortly after a myocardial infarction in a high-risk population with reduced left ventricular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was planned to include 2000 patients with an enzyme confirmed myocardial infarction and severely reduced left ventricular function determined by echocardiography (corresponding to ejection fraction < or =0.35). The primary endpoint was all cause mortality and the secondary endpoints were time to first event of death, progression of heart failure or reinfarction-and the components. The study was closed early due to discontinuation of development of bucindolol by the manufacturer. Therefore, 170 patients were randomised to receive bucindolol and 173 to receive placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 27 deaths in the bucindolol group and 30 in the placebo group, hazard ratio of bucindolol 0.88 (95% confidence limits 0.5-1.5; P=0.6). There were 9/4 (bucindolol/placebo, P=0.16) heart failure events and 5/17 (P=0.01) reinfarctions in the bucindolol/placebo groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to early closure it is unknown whether bucindolol changes mortality in high-risk post myocardial infarct patients when added to best medical therapy. The frequency of reinfarction was significantly reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. ctp@heart.dk
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Køber
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brendorp
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ottesen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berning
authors.forename: Gorm
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zilles
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlsen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; C024307:bucindolol