EFFECT OF CARDIOSELECTIVE BETA‐BLOCKADE ON HEART FUNCTION AND CHEST PAIN IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION*

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Abstract
Systolic time intervals and the a/H ratio were recorded in 20 patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction over a period of five days. The initial high heart rate and systolic blood pressure and the short PEP and ICT indicating a sympathetic overactivity were spontaneously normalized during the first week of infarction. LVET was reduced indicating a fall in stroke volume and the a/H ratio was unchanged at the high levels suggestive of elevated preload or LVEDP. In 10 patients with acute myocardial infarction and recurrent chest pain recordings on noninvasive parameters were made before and 30 min after intravenous injection of practolol. In addition, 7 patients with chest pain, classified as acute myocardial infarction, were given practolol. The average dose of practolol was 17.9 mg ranging from 5 to 30 mg. An almost immediate and pronounced relief of pain was observed in all patients and no signs of impaired left ventricular function appeared. The product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate was decreased by practolol and the PEP and the ICT were prolonged to normal values while no changes were seen in LVET and a/H ratio. On 126 occasions practolol was given in dosages ranging from 5 to 30 mg (mean 8 mg) to 75 patients with acute myocardial infarction and recurrent chest pain. A satisfactory pain relief was seen on 108 occasions. It is suggested that an inappropriate sympathetic overactivity is an important factor in provoking recurrent chest pain in acute myocardial infarction. Administration of the beta-adrenergic blocking agent practolol resulted in pain relief due to reduction of heart work and in severity of myocardial ischemia. The beta-blocking agent was well tolerated in the present study. Continuous beta-blockade during the whole hospital stay to patients with acute myocardial infarction seems to be a very attractive therapy in order to preserve the ischemic myocardium and limit the size of infarction.