Aim: To examine antioxidant and antiarrhythmic activity of carvedilol vs that of standard beta-blocker anaprilin in coronary patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Material and methods: The cross-over trial enrolled 50 coronary male patients with LVEF under 45%. Before and after treatment with carvedilol and anaprilin, measurements were made of blood dienic conjugates and malonic dialdehyde, 24-h ECG monitoring was performed.
Results: The antioxidant activity of antiarrhythmic effect of carvedilol was significantly higher than that of anaprilin. A correlation was discovered between the number of extrasystoles and blood levels of dienic conjugates.
Conclusion: Marked antioxidant activity of carvedilol as well as reduced myocardial energy consumption resultant from hemodynamic cardiac unloading due to block of alpha-adrenoreceptors contribute to carvedilol additional antiarrhythmic effect.