[Use of beta-blockers for treatment of cardiac failure].
The rationale for betablocker use in heart failure, based on neurohormonal physiology, has been established over the past 20 years. Recent trials have shown the unequivocal benefits of betablockers in patients with chronic systolic heart failure. The benefits include improve survival (35%) reduced need for hospitalization and improve of left ventricular function. However, betablockers may also make a patient with heart failure worse, especially when treatment begins and there is reluctance to use betablockade therapy. Complications can generally be avoided by starting with extremely low doses and increasing the dose very slowly. Despite this, further questions remain regarding the use of these agents in cardiac failure, including the role in the progression of the disease, the selection of individual betablocker, and the use in very severe disease or very old patients.
Rodríguez Moreno
C
C
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Vidán s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela.
Durán Parrondo
C
C
Donado Budiño
E G
EG
García Reboredo
M
M
Tato Herrero
F
F
Tarragó Bofarull
J
J
Lado Lado
F
F
Rodríguez López
I
I
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists