title: Heart-Rate Reduction With Adjusted-Dose Ivabradine in Patients Undergoing Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography: A Randomized Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our prospective, randomized, open-label study assessed the efficacy of a heart rate-lowering, adjusted-dose protocol with ivabradine prior to coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing CCTA were randomized to 7 days of adjusted-dose ivabradine or standard care (ie, no additional medication). Heart rate and β-blocker and antianxiety medication use on the day of the CCTA were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred one patients were randomized (mean age, 60 [SD, 13] years; 66% women). Significantly more patients on ivabradine had heart rates of 60 beats per minute or less at the time of the CCTA scan (48% vs 8%, P < 0.01); accordingly, fewer patients on ivabradine needed additional heart rate lowering with β-blockers (40% vs 86%, P < 0.01), as well as antianxiety medication (18% vs 39%, P < 0.05), and also required lower doses of intravenous β-blockers (4 [SD, 2] vs 7 [SD, 5] mg, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 7-day premedication protocol with ivabradine effectively lowers heart rate in patients undergoing CCTA.
authors.affiliation: From the *University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine; and Departments of †Vascular Diseases and ‡Nuclear Medicine, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Blaž
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kacijan
authors.forename: Zala
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jug
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolenc Novak
authors.forename: Matjaž
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrtovec
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gužič Salobir
mesh_terms: D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000077550:Ivabradine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D000077550:Ivabradine