The effects of carvedilol and nebivolol on oxidative stress status in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Carvedilol and nebivolol have favourable properties such as anti-oxidative effects in addition to other beta-blockers. However, which of these drugs is more effective on oxidative stress is unclear. AIM To compare the effects carvedilol and nebivolol on oxidative stress status in non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS We included 56 symptomatic non-ischaemic HF patients with ejection fraction ≤ 40%. The patients were randomised to carvedilol (n = 29, 18 male) or nebivolol (n = 27, 18 male) groups. They were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically after target dose. We evaluated parameters associated with oxidative stress, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), uric acid, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI). RESULTS TAC, TOS, GGT, and ALP levels and OSI were comparable in both groups. Uric acid levels were lower in the carvedilol group compared with the nebivolol group (5.8 ± 1.6 vs. 7.0 ± 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.01). In correlation analysis, uric acid (p < 0.001, r = 0.50) and TOS level (p < 0.001, r = 0.73) were positively correlated with OSI. CONCLUSIONS Carvedilol and nebivolol have similar effects on oxidative stress status in patients with non-ischaemic HF.