Open AccessRole of ß Blockers in Congestive Heart Failure
Author(s) -
Khan Nazim Uddin Azam,
Movahed Assad
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
congestive heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1751-7133
pISSN - 1527-5299
DOI - 10.1111/j.1527-5299.2000.80176.x
Subject(s) - heart failure , medicine , digoxin , cardiology , sympathetic nervous system , adrenergic , adrenergic beta antagonists , pathophysiology , receptor , blood pressure , propranolol
Prolonged activation of the adrenergic nervous system has adverse consequences on the cardiovascular system in patients with congestive heart failure. β adrenergic receptor—blocker therapy modifies these deleterious effects. β blockers have been shown to improve myocardial function and survival when used in conjunction with conventional treatment with diuretics, angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors, and digoxin. β blocker therapy in mild‐to‐moderate heart failure should not be delayed because it causes some reversal of both neurohormonal compensatory mechanisms and the deletorious myocardial remodeling process. This paper reviews the beneficial effects of β adrenergic receptor‐blocker therapy on the pathophysiology, symptoms, left ventricular function, morbidity, and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure.