Adverse effects of beta-blockade withdrawal in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

Patients (15) with congestive cardiomyopathy who improved conspicuously on chronic administration of a beta-blocker were studied after withdrawal of the drug. In 6 patients, there was a pronounced deterioration of their clinical condition and in the remaining patients, there was a significant decrease in ejection fraction and signs of compromised diastolic function with pathological apex curves and an increase in 3rd heart sound. These changes were reversed within a few weeks to a few months after readministration of beta-blocking drugs. An etiological factor in congestive cardiomyopathy may be a pathological response to sympathetic stimulation, which could be partly controlled by administration of beta-blocking drugs.