BACKGROUND: It has yet to be determined whether withdrawing beta-blocker therapy from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is safe. METHODS: The influence of tapering and then stopping metoprolol was clarified in 13 patients with DCM who had been receiving this agent for >/=30 months. RESULTS: Seven of the 13 patients deteriorated, including 4 who died suddenly or of congestive heart failure during the 4-month period after metoprolol cessation. CONCLUSION: In patients with DCM in whom beta-blocker therapy is effective, withdrawal of these agents may lead to death. We conclude that beta-blockers should not be stopped in this patient group.
BACKGROUND: It has yet to be determined whether withdrawing beta-blocker therapy from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is safe. METHODS: The influence of tapering and then stopping metoprolol was clarified in 13 patients with DCM who had been receiving this agent for >/=30 months. RESULTS: Seven of the 13 patients deteriorated, including 4 who died suddenly or of congestive heart failure during the 4-month period after metoprolol cessation. CONCLUSION: In patients with DCM in whom beta-blocker therapy is effective, withdrawal of these agents may lead to death. We conclude that beta-blockers should not be stopped in this patient group.
Authors: Brian P Halliday; Rebecca Wassall; Amrit S Lota; Zohya Khalique; John Gregson; Simon Newsome; Robert Jackson; Tsveta Rahneva; Rick Wage; Gillian Smith; Lucia Venneri; Upasana Tayal; Dominique Auger; William Midwinter; Nicola Whiffin; Ronak Rajani; Jason N Dungu; Antonis Pantazis; Stuart A Cook; James S Ware; A John Baksi; Dudley J Pennell; Stuart D Rosen; Martin R Cowie; John G F Cleland; Sanjay K Prasad Journal: Lancet Date: 2018-11-11 Impact factor: 79.321