title: Beta-blocker therapy for cardiac dysfunction in patients with muscular dystrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In muscular dystrophy, cardiac function deteriorates with time and heart failure is one of the major causes of death. Although the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and beta-blockers improves cardiac function in adults, little is known about the efficacy of those drugs in patients with muscular dystrophy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of the beta-blocker, carvedilol, and/or ACEI on ventricular function in patients with muscular dystrophy was studied. Carvedilol and an ACEI were given to 13 patients (ACEI group; mean age 18 years, range 7-27 years), and an ACEI only to 15 patients (carvedilol group; mean age 15 years, range 8-29 years). Diagnoses included Duchenne muscular dystrophy (n=25), Fukuyama muscular dystrophy (n=2), and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (n=1). Echocardiographic parameters of the left ventricle were measured during the 2-3 years of follow-up. In the carvedilol group, combination therapy of carvedilol and an ACEI for 2 years resulted in a significant increase in left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS). In the ACEI group, there was no significant change in LVFS. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension increased in the ACEI group, but not in the carvedilol group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carvedilol plus an ACEI improves left ventricular systolic function in patients with muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kajimoto
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomimatsu
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077261:Carvedilol; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol