Carvedilol: something else than a simple betablocker?

The left ventricular diastolic function as prognostic predictor in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy 7

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that the presence of restrictive left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling pattern in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy have an unfavorable prognostic. Aim: 1. To establish the value of LV diastolic filling pattern as prognostic predictor in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. 2. Assessment of the betablocker treatment on these patien...

Pharmacologic stress echocardiography: can we forget "state-of-the-art" protocols?

acteristics. Furthermore, to avoid a basic misunderstanding of the objective of our study, one specific point needs to be emphasized. The study was not designed to address the question of whether one betablocker is more effective than another, but rather (as clearly stated in our article) to evaluate whether carvedilol may provide additional benefits in a select subgroup of patients with dilate...

Immunadsorption therapy for end stage heart failure due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy

We report about a successful immunadsorption therapy of a boy with end stage heart failure due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy who has little chance to get cardiac transplantation. Prior to this therapy a medical therapy with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, a low dose betablocker, an aldosterone antagonist, and diuretics failed. In consent with the patient and his parents immunoadsor...

Replacement of carvedilol for propranolol in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND Large clinical trials using the betablockers carvedilol, metoprolol, bisoprolol and nebivolol have demonstrated improvement of survival and symptoms in patients with heart failure. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, it is plausible that their beneficial effects are extensible to other betablockers. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of the replacement of carvedilol for proprano...

The checklist: if something so simple can transform intensive care, what else can it do?