J Korean Med Assoc.  2007 Mar;50(3):274-278. 10.5124/jkma.2007.50.3.274.

Role of Beta-blockers in Treatment of Heart Failure

• Kim DK
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2184810
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2007.50.3.274

Abstract

Anti-adrenergic medication is very important to the treatment of chronic heart failure because a failing human heart is adrenergically activated. The increase in cardiac adrenergic drive and circulating norepinephrine are damaging to a failing heart. Certain beta-blockers have been shown to improve the cardiac function and symptoms and to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure. Recently, the third-generation beta-blockers have emerged for the treatment of heart failure. This article reviews the neurohormonal pathophysiology of heart failure and the different beta-blockers and their effects.

Keyword

Heart failure; Beta-blocker

MeSH Terms

Heart Failure*
Heart*
Hospitalization
Humans
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine

Figure

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  Figure 1 Impact on mortality of carvedilol use at discharge compared with no β blocker at discharge in eligible patients without contraindications Log-rank test: P<.004

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