ISSN:
1432-1041
Keywords:
Xamoterol, Heart failure
;
diurnal effect, R-R interval histogram,β-antagonism, circadian rhythm
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Xamoterol acts as aβ 1-adrenoceptor agonist at low sympathetic activity and as an antagonist at high activity. Although its long-term efficacy has been proven in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, it remains unclear which effect, agonism or antagonism, accounts for its long-term activity. To clarify the effect of xamoterol on cardiac sympathetic activity in daily life, 24-h R-R interval histograms were obtained during administration of xamoterol 100 mg b. d. for 1 week to 10 patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Eight normal subjects were also studied as controls. To examine the relation between the effect of xamoterol and sympathetic activity, plasma noradrenaline (NA) levels were measured under 5 graded conditions simulating daily living. Xamoterol administration significantly decreased the standard deviation of the R-R interval, both in patients with heart failure and in normal subjects. The mean R-R interval, however, was increased in patients with heart failure, relative to normal subjects. In both groups, the R-R interval histograms had two peaks, i. e. a short daytime peak and a long night-time peak. Xamoterol decreased the median of the night-time peak without changing the daytime peak in normal subjects. In contrast, it increased the median of the daytime peak without producing a significant change in the nighttime peak in patients with heart failure. Levels of plasma NA were significantly higher in patients than in normal subjects under all conditions. Thus, in normal subjects xamoterol predominantly increased the slower heart rate at night with only a minor effect on the higher heart rate in the daytime, whereas it predominantly attenuated the daytime tachycardia induced by sympathetic stimulation in patients with heart failure. It is concluded that xamoterol tends overall to act as aβ-adrenoceptor antagonist during the day, especially in the daytime in patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Its antagonist rather than its agonist effect may account for the long-term efficacy of xamoterol in patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02285085
