PMID: 6112196Apr 1, 1981Paper

Use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)

Herz
A WirtzfeldG Schmidt

Abstract

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents exert a number of pharmacologic effects which may potentially be beneficial and warrant their use in acute myocardial infarction: by decreasing heart rate, myocardial contractility and systolic blood pressure, reducing catecholamine-induced lipolysis and antagonizing the oxygen-wasting effects of catecholamines on the myocardium, myocardial oxygen balance may be improved thus reducing ischemia. Theoretically this may lead to a limitation of infarct size by protecting underperfused myocardium from ultimate necrosis. Definite proof for such a positive effect in man, however, is not yet available. In animals a number of experimental findings either indirectly of directly demonstrate the potential protective effect of beta-blockers on ischemic myocardium. Early treatment is able to significantly prolong myocardial survival time and limit the area of myocardial damage to about 50% as compared with untreated controls. Experience with treatment of myocardial infarction in man has shown that beta-blocking agents are well tolerated in patients presenting in hemodynamically stable condition (Killip groups I and II). By reducing heart rate as well as pressure and volume work of the heart and reducing serum-...Continue Reading

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