Short-term hemodynamic effects of nebivolol in acute decompensated heart failure: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction Acute decompensation heart failure in patients in use of β-blocker has become frequent and maintenance of this drug remains controversial, mainly in low cardiac output. Nitric-oxide-dependent vasodilation of nebivolol could be useful in this situation. Methods We evaluated hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure, NYHA IV, EF <0.45, in use of dobutamine and carvedilol. Intervention: patients were randomly assigned to carvedilol maintenance or exchange to nebivolol according to Table 1. Hemodynamic parameters were compared using a noninvasive model flow technique (Nexfin®; BMEYE), 24 hours before, 6 and 24 hours after the randomization. P <0.05 was significant. (Table presented) Results We selected 30 patients, 75% men, age 56.0 (SD = 13.0) years, ejection fraction 23.4 (SD = 7.2)%, ischemic myocardiopathy present in 16.7%, Chagas disease in 40% and 43.3% of patients were nonischemic/ non-Chagas. Baseline indexed systemic vascular resistance was 2,255.9 (SD = 792.4) dynes.second/cm5/m2, and cardiac index was 2.7 (SD = 0.6) l/minute/m. In the nebivolol group (n = 15) the indexed systemic vascular resistance reduced 0.6% and in the carvedilol group (n = 15) it reduced 5.0% in 24 hours (mean difference 4.4%; 95% CI: -12.6 to 21.4%; P = 0.513). The cardiac index maintained unchanged (P = 0.274). Comparing patients that received a high dose of nebivolol (5 to 10 mg/ day) to those with a low dose (<5 mg/day) or carvedilol, we observed a tendency to superiority of high dose in reduction of systemic vascular resistance, although not statistically significant (Figure 1). Conclusion Short-term nebivolol use in decompensated heart failure was hemodynamically safe. Further studies should be done to clarify this matter. (Figure presented).