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[Beta-blocker therapy during acutely decompensated heart failure]
Damien Keller1, David Carballo, Nicolas Garin
1Service de médecine interne générale, Département de médecine interne, HUG, 1211 Genève 14.
Abstract:
The well established benefits of beta-blocker therapy in chronic heart failure include improved survival and quality of life and decreased morbidity and hospitalizations. In acute heart failure, evidence supports early initiation of beta-blocker therapy within the same hospitalization. Beta-blocker therapy seldom has to be withdrawn if patients are already on this medication as maintaining beta-blockers throughout these episodes is not deleterious and increases ulterior therapeutic adhesion. Possible indications for temporarily discontinuing therapy are a worsening clinical condition or cardiogenic shock. Potential benefits of maintaining beta-blockers on mortality still have to be confirmed by larger prospective trials.
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