Can intravenous beta blockade predict long-term haemodynamic benefit in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease? A comparison between intravenous and oral carvedilol.

Several studies in the past have shown the long-term beneficial effects of beta-blockers in congestive heart failure. Despite the interest in this mode of therapy, their clinical application has been limited due to their negative inotropic effect. A subset of the heart failure patients do not show any improvements with standard beta-blocker therapy. Carvedilol, a new, non-selective beta-blocking agent with concurrent alpha-blocking properties, was evaluated in 17 patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease. All had resting left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 45% and were maintained on diuretic therapy. Acute haemodynamic measurements were made after intravenous carvedilol (2.5-7.5 mg) and also after chronic therapy for 8 weeks (carvedilol 12.5-50 mg b.d.). Radionuclide ventriculography, ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring and right heart catheterization were performed before and after 8 weeks of chronic therapy. Twelve patients completed the study and 5 were withdrawn. Symptomatic and haemodynamic improvement was demonstrated in 11 of the 12 patients after 8 weeks of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)