A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
A-Textbook-of-Clinical-Pharmacology-and-Therapeutics-5th-edition
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214 HEART FAILURE<br />
Precautions in terms <strong>of</strong> first-dose hypotension <strong>and</strong> monitoring<br />
creatinine <strong>and</strong> electrolytes are similar to those for ACEI.<br />
β-ADRENOCEPTOR ANTAGONISTS<br />
For more information, see Chapter 28 for use in hypertension,<br />
Chapter 29 for use in ischaemic heart disease <strong>and</strong> Chapter 32 for<br />
use as antidysrhythmic drugs.<br />
Classification <strong>of</strong> β-adrenoceptor antagonists<br />
Adrenoceptors are classified as α or β, with a further subdivision<br />
<strong>of</strong> the latter into β 1 , mainly in the heart, β 2 which are present<br />
in, for example, bronchioles <strong>and</strong> β 3 , which mediate metabolic<br />
effects in brown fat.<br />
Cardioselective beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol, metoprolol)<br />
inhibit β 1 -receptors relatively selectively, but are nonetheless<br />
hazardous for patients with asthma.<br />
Some beta-blockers (e.g. oxprenolol) are partial agonists <strong>and</strong><br />
possess intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. This is seldom<br />
important in practice.<br />
Vasodilating beta-blockers include drugs (e.g. labetolol,<br />
carvedilol) with additional α-blocking activity. Celiprolol has<br />
additional agonist activity at β 2 -receptors. Nebivolol releases<br />
endothelium-derived nitric oxide, as well as being a highly<br />
selective β 1 -adrenoceptor blocker.<br />
Use in heart failure<br />
Beta-blockers are negative inotropes <strong>and</strong> so intuitively would<br />
be expected to worsen heart failure. There is, however, a<br />
rationale for their use in terms <strong>of</strong> antagonizing counterregulatory<br />
sympathetic activation <strong>and</strong> several r<strong>and</strong>omized<br />
controlled trials have demonstrated improved survival when<br />
a β-adrenoceptor antagonist is added to other drugs, including<br />
an ACEI. Several β-adrenoceptor antagonists have been<br />
shown to be <strong>of</strong> benefit including bisoprolol, metoprolol <strong>and</strong><br />
carvedilol. Bisoprolol <strong>and</strong> metoprolol are cardioselective β 1<br />
antagonists, whereas carvedilol is non-selective <strong>and</strong> has additional<br />
α antagonist properties. Carvedilol may be more effective<br />
than bisoprolol in heart failure, but is less well tolerated<br />
because <strong>of</strong> postural hypotension. Treatment is started with a<br />
low dose when the patient is stable <strong>and</strong> the patient reviewed<br />
regularly at short intervals (e.g. every two weeks or more frequently<br />
if needed), <strong>of</strong>ten by a heart failure nurse, with dose<br />
titration as tolerated.<br />
Adverse effects<br />
• Intolerance Fatigue <strong>and</strong> cold extremities are common <strong>and</strong><br />
dose related. Erectile dysfunction occurs, but is less<br />
common than with thiazide diuretics. Central nervous<br />
system (CNS) effects (e.g. vivid dreams) can occur.<br />
• Airways obstruction β-adrenoceptor antagonists<br />
predispose to severe airways obstruction in patients with<br />
pre-existing obstructive airways disease, especially<br />
asthma.<br />
• Peripheral vascular disease <strong>and</strong> vasospasm β-adrenoceptor<br />
antagonists worsen claudication in patients with<br />
symptomatic atheromatous peripheral vascular disease<br />
<strong>and</strong> worsen Raynaud’s phenomenon.<br />
• Hypoglycaemia β-adrenoceptor antagonists mask<br />
symptoms <strong>of</strong> hypoglycaemia, <strong>and</strong> slow the rate <strong>of</strong><br />
recovery from it, because adrenaline stimulates<br />
gluconeogenesis via β 2 -adrenoceptors.<br />
• Heart block.<br />
ALDOSTERONE ANTAGONISTS<br />
For more information, see Chapter 36.<br />
Spironolactone (or the newer expensive agent, eplerenone),<br />
when added to conventional therapy with loop diuretic, ACEI<br />
<strong>and</strong> β-adrenoceptor antagonist, further improves survival.<br />
Concerns regarding hyperkalaemia in such patients may have<br />
been overstated, at least provided patients with appreciably<br />
impaired renal function are excluded from such treatment.<br />
COMBINED HYDRALAZINE WITH ORGANIC NITRATE<br />
THERAPY<br />
There is renewed interest in combined therapy with<br />
hydralazine (Chapter 28) <strong>and</strong> a long-acting nitrate (Chapter 29).<br />
The pharmacologic basis for investigating this was that<br />
hydralazine reduced afterload <strong>and</strong> the nitrate reduced preload.<br />
As mentioned above, this improved survival in one r<strong>and</strong>omized<br />
controlled trial, but performed less well overall in a<br />
direct comparison with an ACEI. However, a subgroup analysis<br />
suggested that African-American patients did better with<br />
the hydralazine/nitrate combination, whereas Caucasians<br />
did better with ACEI. This observation led to a further study<br />
in African-Americans which confirmed the efficacy <strong>of</strong><br />
hydralazine–nitrate treatment. It is now <strong>of</strong>ten used for patients<br />
<strong>of</strong> African origin. Hopefully, genetic testing will further improve<br />
the targeting <strong>of</strong> appropriate therapy (‘personalized medicine’)<br />
in future.<br />
DIGOXIN<br />
For more information on the use <strong>of</strong> digoxin, refer to Chapter 32.<br />
William Withering described an extract <strong>of</strong> foxglove as a<br />
‘cure’ for ‘dropsy’ (congestive cardiac failure) in 1785. Digoxin<br />
remains useful for symptoms.<br />
Use in heart failure<br />
Rapid atrial fibrillation can worsen heart failure <strong>and</strong> digoxin<br />
can be used to control the ventricular response, which it does<br />
by stimulating vagal efferents to the heart (Chapter 32). Its<br />
positive inotropic action is an added benefit. Heart failure<br />
patients in sinus rhythm who remain symptomatic despite<br />
optimal treatment with life-prolonging medications also benefit.<br />
Addition <strong>of</strong> digoxin to diuretics <strong>and</strong> ACEI reduces hospitalization<br />
<strong>and</strong> improves symptoms, without prolonging life. It<br />
is usually given orally, but can be given i.v. if a rapid effect is<br />
required. Since the half-life is approximately 30–48 hours,<br />
repeated administration <strong>of</strong> a once-daily maintenance dose results<br />
in a plateau concentration in about five to ten days. The dose<br />
may be adjusted based on plasma concentration determinations<br />
once steady state has been reached (Chapter 8). Such determinations<br />
are also useful if toxicity is suspected (e.g. because <strong>of</strong><br />
nausea, bradycardia or ECG changes). In urgent situations, a