beta-blocker therapy in patients after aortic valve replacement for aorticregurgitation

Background: beta-blocker therapy for dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy is now an accepted and effective treatment. However, little is known about its efficacy in patients with postoperative impaired left ventricular function . This retrospective study was designed to assess the effects of beta-block er therapy in patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic regu rgitation (AR). Methods: A total of 59 patients who underwent AVR for chron ic AR were assigned to four groups. Twelve patients were treated with both ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, 12 patients with only ACE inhibitors, eig ht patients with only beta-blockers, and 27 patients without beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors. A postoperative echocardiographic study was performed on e year after surgery. Results: The heart rate was significantly reduced in patients with beta-blockers despite the use of ACE inhibitors after surgery . Postoperative left ventricular volume was more significantly decreased in beta patients than in non-beta patients despite the use of ACE inhibitors. There were also significant reductions in left ventricular mass index in A CE+beta patients compared to ACE+non-beta patients. However, there were no significant differences in NYHA functional class and survival rate between beta patients and non-beta patients. Conclusions: beta-blocker therapy may improve cardiac performance by reducing cardiac volume and mass in patients with impaired LV function after AVR for AR. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights reserved.