Beneficial effects of carvedilol as a concomitant therapy to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with ischemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Studies are scant on the effects of short-term carvedilol treatment as an adjuvant to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. The objective of this study was to find the effects of short-term treatment of carvedilol on patients with ischemic LV systolic dysfunction (defined as LV ejection fraction (LVEF) <= 30% on 2D echocardiography) undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). There were 74 patients that received ACE inhibitor without any 0-blocker (control) and 67 patients that received carvedilol in addition to ACE inhibitor following CABG (carvedilol group). After 1 month of drug administration following CABG, the control group was found to have significantly greater percent improvement in LVEF (29.1% +/- 5.39%) as compared with the carvedilol group (15.3% +/- 4.89%). However, after 3 and 6 months, LVEF levels were found to be significantly greater in the carvedilol group as compared with the control group. Further, at 6 months of drug administration, LV end systolic diameter was significantly less in the carvedilol group (39.11 +/- 1.10 mm) as compared with the control group (43.49 +/- 1.31) mm). Thus, carvedilol produces beneficial effect on short-term administration in terms of LV contractility when given along with ACE inhibtior as compared with ACE inhibitor therapy alone.