Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Measurement of Heart Contractility in Isolated Adult Human Primary Cardiomyocytes
Published on: August 9, 2022
[Update on beta blockers in 2020]
T Bejan-Angoulvant1, D Angoulvant2
1Service de Pharmacologie Médicale, CHRU et Université de Tours. Hôpital Bretonneau, 2 boulevard Tonnellé - 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
Abstract:
Beta-blockers (BB) are an heterogenous set of molecules actively blocking β adrenergic receptors. Their pharmacological properties depend on their various effects on the adrenergic signalling. Although they are no longer a first-choice treatment in hypertensive patients, they remain a cornerstone of pharmacological strategy in several cardiovascular diseases such as stable angina, heart failure, arrythmia and aortic related connective diseases. Beyond their usual non cardiovascular indications such as migraine, hepatic cirrhosis, glaucoma, infantile hemangioma, and hyperthyroidism, new therapeutic fields are under scrutiny. Potential BB therapeutic repurposing is being investigated in COPD and cancer patients. This narrative review first encompasses the basic pharmacological knowledge that may be useful for the clinician. Then it will detail BB main indications before exploring new therapeutic fields.
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Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers
Antihypertensive Drugs: Types of β-Blockers
Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

