[Evaluation of the effect of carvedilol in children with dilated cardiomyopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of carvedilol administrated during 8 months in children with heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy.


METHODS
We initiated carvedilol in patients who, despite optimization of standard treatment, had persistent left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40% and evaluated the systolic and diastolic left ventricular function before and after 4 and 8 months of treatment.


RESULTS
19 patients were included in the study, 10 women; median age: 6.7 years and 17 +/- 12.4 months after the diagnosis. The ejection fraction improved significantly from entry to eight months (median: 33.5 to 52.6%, p = 0.01) as did the shortening fraction (m: 14.8 to 25.8%, p = 0.01). The myocardial performance index abnormal in all 19 patients became normal in 5 at the end of study. In addition mitral Doppler flow which was altered in 9 improved in 3 and pulmonary venous flow abnormal in all patients improved in 13. Only 1 patient presented minimal adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Carvedilol added to standard therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy improves left ventricular function, is well tolerated, and has minimal adverse effects in childhood.
Saucedo
Norma Alicia Balderrábano
NA
Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico, D.F.
Alarcón
Alfredo Vizcaíno
AV
Islas
Gonzalo Espinosa
GE
De La Cruz
Lorenzo Reyes
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol