The role of β-blockers in chronic heart failure <br /> <br />

Journal Title: Αρχεία Ελληνικής Ιατρικής - Year 2003, Vol 20, Issue 1

Abstract

Until recently β-blockers were contraindicated for the treatment of chronic heart failure and their administration was avoided in heart failure patients. The use of β-blockers in heart failure is justified by the fact that increased activation of the adrenergic system in heart failure results in adverse biological signals to the cardiac myocytes. While the effects of β-blockers on exercise capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients are still controversial, clinical trials clearly show improvement in left ventricular function and reduction in its size, as well as fewer hospitalizations from aggravated heart failure. Four adequately powered β-blocker trials, US Carvedilol, CIBIS II, MERIT-HF and COPERNICUS, showed that treatment with β-blockers significantly reduced total and sudden death mortality in heart failure patients. Now, β-blockers are recommended for patients with mild to severe chronic heart failure (NYHA functional class II–IV) and with depressed left ventricular function. Uncertainties still persist about the use of β-blockers in patients with NYHA functional class I and in some specific patient groups with heart failure. Treatment with β-blockers should be started at a very low initial dosage and then titrated up to the maximal tolerated dosage. Today, despite impressive results in terms of morbidity and mortality, β-blocker use in heart failure patients is limited, with only a minority of them benefitting.

Authors and Affiliations

P. GEORGAKOPOULOS, M. KYRIAKIDIS

Keywords

Related Articles

Epidemiology, etiology and prevention of oral cancer

Oral cancer is a major global health problem and familiarity with its epidemiological and etiological characteristics and the methods of prevention has the potential to improve its management. The most common histologica...

A comparative study of health-related quality of life in patients with hepatitis B and CC

OBJECTIVE To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of moderate degree hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients, without cirrhosis, who had been treated with interferon (α-2b or α-2a) for at least twelve months. More...

The evolution of techniques and prospects in esophagectomy

Resection of the esophagus, an organ which crosses three anatomical regions, is traditionally regarded as a complex surgical procedure carrying a high operative risk. Indications for esophagectomy include carcinoma, seve...

Clinical manifestations and epidemiology of Campylobacter spp infection

Campylobacter infection usually causes enteritis, the nosological spectrum of which varies from watery, non-bloody diarrhea to severe inflammatory diarrhea with abdominal pain and fever. Bacteremia, Reiter syndrome, Guil...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP112906
  • DOI -
  • Views 117
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

P. GEORGAKOPOULOS, M. KYRIAKIDIS (2003). The role of β-blockers in chronic heart failure <br /> <br /> . Αρχεία Ελληνικής Ιατρικής, 20(1), 18-29. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-112906