The effects of moxonidine, a novel imidazoline, on plasma norepinephrine in patients with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dose response relationship of moxonidine on plasma concentration of norepinephrine during acute and chronic administration in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).BACKGROUNDSympathetic activation is increased in heart failure. Moxonidine is an imidazoline ligand acting on the central nervous system (CNS) receptors to decrease sympathetic activation.METHODSNinety-seven patients with heart failure and New York Heart Association class II–III symptoms and ejection fraction 8 h). The number of adverse events was similar in the moxonidine and placebo groups.CONCLUSIONSThe increased sympathetic activation in CHF can be reduced by moxonidine through CNS inhibition.