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β-Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Drugs in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Autonomically Mediated Cardiovascular Functional Disorders and Fallot’s Tetralogy

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Summary

Overactivity of the sympathetico-adrenal system has been shown to play a role in the genesis of autonomically mediated cardiovascular functional disorders and in increasing the outflow obstruction in hypertrophic (obstructive) cardiomyopathy. This fact provided the basis for trials with β-adrenergic receptor blocking (β-blocking) drugs in the treatment of these disorders.

Acute studies of the effects of these agents in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, autonomically mediated cardiovascular functional disorders and the dyspnoeic ‘spells’ in Fallot’s tetralogy have given striking results. The drugs have reduced or abolished changes associated with sympathetic overactivity in these disorders, especially in patients who are mildly or moderately affected. Long-term oral therapy with β-adrenergic receptor blocking agents has proved to be a valuable treatment in many patients suffering from symptoms of the above-mentioned disorders, particularly those with autonomic heart and circulatory disturbances.

The most commonly used drug in these acute and long-term studies has been pro-pranolol. However, there is no reason to believe that the therapeutic value of the other β-blockers (alprenolol, oxprenolol and pindolol) differs significantly from that of pro-pranolol.

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  1. Department of Clinical Physiology, Central Hospital, S-961 19, Boden, Sweden

    C. D. Furberg

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Furberg, C.D. β-Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Drugs in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Autonomically Mediated Cardiovascular Functional Disorders and Fallot’s Tetralogy. Drugs 7, 106–117 (1974). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-197407010-00007

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