Carvedilol: use in chronic heart failure.
Carvedilol is a beta-adrenergic antagonist with vasodilatory properties (alpha1-antagonism), which has been extensively evaluated in the treatment of patients with heart failure. In patients with chronic heart failure carvedilol improves left-ventricular (LV) ejection fraction over 6 to 12 months of treatment, and attenuates LV remodelling. Large-scale randomised, placebo controlled trials involving more than 4000 patients with chronic heart failure have demonstrated that carvedilol improves survival and reduces hospitalizations. Comparative studies with metoprolol in patients with heart failure have suggested that carvedilol may be associated with greater survival benefit although differences in the preparation of metoprolol have left uncertainty in this area. Carvedilol has a high safety profile and the clinical benefits appear maintained across a wide range of patients with comorbidities such as diabetes and renal failure. Carvedilol has also been shown to attenuate LV remodeling and improve clinical outcomes in patients with LV dysfunction and/or heart failure following acute myocardial infarction. As a result of these data, carvedilol is recommended for treatment of patients with heart failure in heart-failure guidelines. This evidence-based treatment should be widely implemented to ensure that patients with heart failure receive appropriate medical therapy.
Doughty
Robert Neil
RN
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Level 12, Auckland Hospital Support Building, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand. r.doughty@auckland.ac.nz
White
Harvey D
HD
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D008790:Metoprolol