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Short-term effects of atenolol in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
R Krittayaphong1, N Mahanonda, C Kangkagate
1Her Majesty's Cardiac Center, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Atenolol improved hemodynamic status in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, reducing heart rate and pressure. However, it did not enhance exercise capacity in this short-term study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy is a frequent cause of heart failure with systolic dysfunction.
- Current treatments primarily offer symptomatic relief.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of atenolol on heart failure in dilated cardiomyopathy.
- To assess hemodynamic and exercise capacity changes.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, randomized study.
- Included 22 patients (17 males, 5 females).
- Utilized heart catheterization, coronary angiography, endomyocardial biopsy, exercise testing, and Doppler echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Atenolol significantly reduced resting and exercise heart rate within 3 months.
- Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was also significantly decreased.
- No significant difference in exercise capacity was observed.
Conclusions:
- Atenolol improves hemodynamic conditions in dilated cardiomyopathy patients.
- Exercise capacity was not improved during the short observation period.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a common cause of heart failure with systolic dysfunction. Medications used to treat this condition are usually for symptomatic relief. We studied the effect of atenolol in heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy in a double blinded randomized fashion. There were 17 males and 5 females. All patients underwent right and left heart catheterization, coronary angiography, endomyocardial biopsy, exercise testing and doppler echocardiography. By 3 months, atenolol significantly reduced resting and exercise heart rate and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. There was no difference in exercise capacity. We conclude from this study that atenolol improve hemodynamic condition in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy without improving exercise capacity during this short observation period.