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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Cardiac Response to β-Adrenergic Stimulation Determined by Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis
Published on: May 19, 2021
Brain natriuretic peptide response is heterogeneous during beta-blocker therapy for congestive heart failure
Akihiro Yoshizawa1, Tsutomu Yoshikawa, Iwao Nakamura
1Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are useful marker to guide medical treatment in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). We tested the hypothesis that the plasma BNP concentration would be a useful marker of beta-blocker therapy for CHF.
Methods And Results:
Eighty-four patients with New York Heart Association class II-IV CHF and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% were treated with beta-blockers, including metoprolol and carvedilol, for at least 16 weeks. End-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions decreased, and radionuclide LVEF increased 4 weeks after introduction of beta-blockers (early phase). LV end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions both decreased, and LVEF increased 16 to 48 weeks after the therapy (late phase). However, the BNP concentration did not change during the observation period. Overall LV function improved in all 4 subgroups divided according to the baseline BNP levels.
Conclusions:
Plasma BNP concentration is not a sensitive marker of successful beta-blocker therapy for CHF.
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