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Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
[Alternative therapy with ivabradine in patients with functional class III chronic heart failure]
Insights
Ivabradine effectively treats functional class III chronic heart failure (CHF) by improving exercise tolerance and cardiac function. This heart failure therapy offers an alternative when beta-blockers are not feasible.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) with functional class (FC) III poses significant challenges.
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertensive disease (HD) are common comorbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ivabradine in FC III CHF patients.
- To assess ivabradine's impact on regulatory adaptive status (RAS).
Main Methods:
- 100 FC III CHF patients with IHD/HD received standard therapy.
- Group 1 (n=56) received metoprolol succinate; Group 2 (n=44) received ivabradine.
- Evaluations included exercise testing (VO2 max), echocardiography, BP monitoring, NT-proBNP, and cardio-respiratory synchronism.
Main Results:
- Ivabradine improved myocardial structure and function.
- Exercise tolerance (VO2 max) and cardiovascular adaptation improved with ivabradine.
- Positive changes in NT-proBNP levels were observed.
Conclusions:
- Ivabradine demonstrated efficacy in FC III CHF patients.
- Ivabradine may serve as an alternative to beta-blockers when contraindicated or not tolerated.
Abstract:
Aim of the study - to determine efficacy of therapy with the use of ivabradine in patients with functional class (FC) III chronic heart failure (CHF) on the basis of assessment of its action on regulatory adaptive status (RAS). We included into the study 100 patients with FC III CHF at the background of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and/or stage III hypertensive disease (HD) receiving complex therapy (quinapril, torasemide, spironolactone). After randomization group 1 comprised 56 patients (age 62.9+/-1.8 years) who were prescribed slow release metoprolol succinate (59.1+/-4.5 mg/day). Group 2 comprised 44 patients (age 59.4+/-1.3 years) who were prescribed If channel inhibitor ivabradine (12.1+/-2.3 mg/day) if beta-blocker use was not possible. Examination at baseline and in 6 months included treadmillometry with assessment of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) at exercise, echocardiography, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, measurement of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in blood plasma. For objective qualitative assessment of the state of RAS we used a test of cardio-respiratory synchronism. Therapy with the use of ivabradine improved structural and functional state of the myocardium, elevated tolerance to exercise, caused positive changes of NT-proBNP concentration in blood plasma and VO2 max at exercise. Thus ivabradine probably can serve as alternative to -adrenoblockers when their use is not possible patients with FC III CHF at the background of IHD and/or stage III HD.
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