title: Early detection by the Tei index of carvedilol-induced improved left ventricular function in patients with heart failure.
abstract: Twenty-two patients (19 men) with heart failure (16 ischemic, 6 dilated cardiomyopathy; mean age of 67 +/- 6 years) in New York Heart Association classes I (2 patients), II (18 patients), and III (2 patients) under optimal therapy were strictly monitored after carvedilol supplementation. The Tei index decreased significantly from 0.87 +/- 0.17 to 0.53 +/- 0.29 (p <0.03). Conversely, the ejection fraction and transmitral Doppler flow analysis did not show significant improvement, despite a trend toward the amelioration of the ejection fraction, the E-/A-wave ratio, and atrial contribution. The Tei index could represent an earlier marker to evaluate drug-induced left ventricular function improvement in patients with heart failure and could represent a more sensitive tool to monitor left ventricular function during drug interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cardiology, Heart Failure Clinic, Central Laboratory Division, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele/Vita e Salute University, Milan, Italy. altin_p@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Altin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palloshi
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fragasso
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silipigni
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cristell
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margonato
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013599:Systole; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol