title: Ivabradine: cardiovascular effects.
abstract: Ivabradine (a compound of the benzocyclobutane) is a highly selective I(f) current inhibitor acting directly on the sino-atrial node, induces a rapid, sustained and dose-dependent reduction of heart rate at rest and during exercise without a significant effect on atrio-ventricular conduction, left ventricular contraction/relaxation or vascular tissues. These properties associated with an improvement in left ventricular loading related to bradycardia resulted in an increase in stroke volume and preservation in cardiac output even during exercise. Various experimental and clinical studies showed the efficacy of ivabradine in patients with chronic stable angina, on heart rate reduction, on ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction and on coronary blood flow. The safety of ivabradine has been documented in several studies and clinical trials, in contrast to beta-blockers, no significant side effects were expressed in the literature. The aim of our review is to describe ivabradine and its cardiovascular effects and outline some recent patents and the results of the most important trials.
authors.affiliation: Catheterization Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Saint Andrea Hospital, 13100 Vercelli, Italy. arognoni@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rognoni
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolazzi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macciò
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rognoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000077550:Ivabradine; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D000077550:Ivabradine