RT Journal Article
SR 00
ID 10.1159/000368746
A1 Khand, Aleem U.
A1 Chew, Pei G.
A1 Douglas, Homeyra
A1 Jones, Julia
A1 Jan, Aftab
A1 Cleland, J.G.F.
T1 The effect of carvedilol on b-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac function in patients with heart failure and persistent atrial fibrillation
JF Cardiology
YR 2015
FD 2015-03
VO 130
IS 3
SP 153
OP 158
AB Objectives: We sought to determine the relationship between changes in natriuretic peptides and symptoms as a consequence of introducing beta-blocker therapy, in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 47 patients with CHF and persistent AF (mean age 68 years and 62% men), we analysed the individual change (Δ) in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level to the introduction of carvedilol (titrated to a target dose of 25 mg twice daily, group A) or placebo (group B) in addition to background treatment with digoxin. Symptoms score, 6-min walk distance, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), heart rate (24-hour ECG) and BNP were measured at baseline and at 4 months. Results: LVEF (Δ median +5 vs. +0.4, p = 0.048), symptoms score (Δ median -4 vs. 0, p = 0.04), NYHA class (Δ median -33% vs. +3% in NYHA class 3-4, p = 0.046) and heart rate [Δ median 24-hour ventricular rate (VR) -19 vs. -2, p < 0.0001] improved with combination therapy of digoxin and carvedilol compared to digoxin alone, but BNP (Δ median +28 vs. -6 , p = 0.11) trended in the opposite direction. There was no relationship between the degree of symptomatic improvement or VR control and BNP response. Conclusion: After the introduction of carvedilol, clinical outcome appears unrelated to BNP changes in patients with CHF and AF. Changes in BNP cannot be used as a marker of clinical response in terms of symptoms or cardiac function in this setting.
PB Karger Publishers
SN 0008-6312
LK https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/134081/