1. Betaxolol versus carvedilol in chronic heart failure (BETACAR study). Rationale and design.
- Author
-
Böhler S, Saubadu S, Scheldewaert R, and Figulla HR
- Subjects
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists administration & dosage, Adrenergic beta-Antagonists adverse effects, Adult, Aged, Betaxolol administration & dosage, Betaxolol adverse effects, Carvedilol, Chronic Disease, Double-Blind Method, Female, Heart Failure mortality, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Ventricular Function, Left drug effects, Adrenergic beta-Antagonists therapeutic use, Betaxolol therapeutic use, Carbazoles therapeutic use, Heart Failure drug therapy, Propanolamines therapeutic use
- Abstract
The use of beta-blockers in heart failure for a long time was regarded as contra-indicated because of their negative inotropic effects. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that beta-blockers slow down the progression of left ventricular dilatation that characterizes heart failure. In addition changes in left ventricular ejection fraction after several months of beta-blocker treatment appears to have predictive value for survival. This beneficial effect of beta-blockade in chronic heart failure needs to be assessed further. The presumed benefit of beta-blockade with betaxolol (CAS 63659-18-7), a highly selective beta-blocker with long duration of action in chronic heart failure (CHF) will be assessed in BETACAR, a comparative study versus carvedilol (CAS 72956-09-3). The design of this study is provided in this article.
- Published
- 1999
- Full Text
- View/download PDF