Effects of carvedilol on left ventricular mass, chamber geometry, and mitral regurgitation in chronic heart failure

and others have previously shown that carvedilol improves left ventricular (LV) function and symptoms in chronic heart failure, This improvement in LV function has also been shown to be associated with an improvement in survi val, This study evaluates the effect of carvedilol on LV mass, geometry, an d degree of mitral regurgitation (MR), In 59 patients with symptomatic hear t failure and LV ejection fraction <0.35, previously randomized to either t reatment with carvedilol or placebo, we evaluated LV mass, geometry, and de gree of MR over the time period of carvedilol treatment. LV mass decreased as early as 4 months into the treatment protocol and continued to decrease over a period of 1 year. LV geometry, defined by the length/diameter ratio, and severity of MR also improved with 4 months of therapy. Thus, compared with placebo treatment, carvedilol decreases LV mass while improving cardia c geometry and decreasing MR in patients with chronic heart failure, These changes occur in association with an improvement in LV systolic function, T his process begins by 4 months of treatment and continues for 12 months. (C )1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.