The impact of beta-receptor blocker addition to high-dose angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-nitrate therapy in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of heart failure is one of continued worsening of cardiac function. Beta-receptor blocker therapy has been effective in improving clinical status and left ventricular function in patients with heart failure. Similarly, high doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with nitrates partially reverse the ventricular remodeling of heart failure.

HYPOTHESIS: We tested the hypothesis that beta-blocker therapy added to high-dose ACE inhibitor-nitrates would potentiate the reversal of heart failure.

METHODS: Thirteen patients, aged 52 +/- 8 years, with moderate to severe heart failure, 12 of whom were referred for transplant consideration, with heart failure duration of 4.8 +/- 2.2 years, were prospectively followed for 12 months. Baseline echocardiographic ejection fraction was 19 +/- 8%, and presenting New York Heart Association class was 2.9 +/- 0.7. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and nitrates were uptitrated over 6 months to a final dose of lisinopril 53 +/- 31 mg/day, and isosorbide dinitrate 217 +/- 213 mg/day. At 6 months, beta-blocker therapy with atenolol was initiated and titrated to a final dose of 46 +/- 23 mg/day. Two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and metabolic stress testing were performed at baseline, at 6 months on lisinopril-nitrates only, and at 12 months on combined ACE inhibitor-nitrate and beta-blocker therapy.

RESULTS: New York Heart Association classification improved from 2.9 +/- 0.7 to 1.8 +/- 0.8 on lisinopril-nitrates (p < 0.05), and to 1.5 +/- 0.5 with the addition of beta blockade (p = NS). On follow-up, peak oxygen consumption rose from 17 +/- 7 ml O2/kg/min at baseline to 21 +/- 5 ml O2/kg/min at 6 months on lisinopril-nitrates (p = 0.06) without further change on beta blockade. Ejection fraction rose from 19 +/- 8 to 33 +/- 14% on lisinopril-nitrates at 6 months (p = 0.005) and to 36 +/- 18% on beta blockade at 12 months (p = NS).

CONCLUSION: High-dose ACE inhibitor-nitrate therapy significantly improved patient clinical status and left ventricular systolic function in heart failure. The addition of beta-receptor blockade over and above high-dose ACE inhibitor-nitrates was well tolerated but had no further impact on symptomatic status, exercise tolerance, or left ventricular systolic function. The potential for pharmacologic reversal of heart failure remodeling may be finite despite the use of complementary therapies. Larger placebo-controlled and randomized trials of beta-receptor blockade added to high-dose ACE inhibitor-nitrate therapy are needed to confirm these observations.