Heart rate and cardiovascular disease: an alternative to Beta blockers.
Ivabradine, an I(f) inhibitor, acts primarily on the sinoatrial node and is used to reduce the heart rate with minimal effect on myocardial contractility, blood pressure, and intracardiac conduction. Heart rate reduction is an important aspect of care in patients with chronic stable angina and heart failure. Many patients with coronary artery disease have coexisting asthma or chronic obstructive airway disease, and most of them are unable to tolerate beta blockers. Ivabradine may thus be a useful medicine in therapeutic heart rate management especially in patients who are intolerant of beta-blockers.
Liang
Michael
M
Department of Cardiology, Waikato Hospital, Pembroke & Selwyn Sts, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
Puri
Aniket
A
Devlin
Gerard
G