THE EFFECTS OF BISOPROLOL AND PROPRANOLOL ON LEFT-VENTRICULAR CARDIAC-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE AND CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE

In a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in patients with ische mic cardiomyopathy due to coronary artery disease, the acute hemodynam ic effects of beta-adrenergic blockade were evaluated. A single dose o f either bisoprolol 10 mg or propranolol 15 mg was given via intraveno us infusion. In 27 patients, left ventricular pressures and mean aorti c pressure in the aortic root were measured. A biplane cineangiography at 50 frames/s was undertaken. For both bisoprolol and propranolol, n o statistically significant evidence of deterioration in ventricular f unction was found.