These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Reappraisal of beta-blocker therapy in the acute and chronic post-myocardial infarction period.
    Author: Borrello F, Beahan M, Klein L, Gheorghiade M.
    Journal: Rev Cardiovasc Med; 2003; 4 Suppl 3():S13-24. PubMed ID: 14564230.
    Abstract:
    In patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI), the early use of intravenous beta-blockade followed by short-term oral administration in the absence of reperfusion therapy has shown a modest reduction in mortality. In contrast, major reductions in mortality and reinfarction have been shown when beta-blockers have been used soon after an acute MI and continued long-term. These benefits were observed in trials conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, prior to the widespread use of reperfusion therapies, antiplatelet agents, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; those trials excluded patients with postischemic heart failure. Recently, the CAPRICORN trial has shown a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and reinfarction in post-MI patients with systolic dysfunction, in response to carvedilol. In spite of compelling evidence supporting the use of beta-blockers in the post-MI setting, data published by the National Cooperative Cardiovascular Project have shown that fewer than half of all post-MI patients receive beta-blockers as long-term therapy. It appears that post-MI patients with perceived contraindications, such as advanced age, diabetes, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and/or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, may derive a substantial benefit from the use of beta-blockers. Given the considerable evidence from randomized clinical trials, the use of beta-blockers is recommended in all post-MI patients without a contraindication, particularly in those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]