Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Lipophilic versus hydrophilic beta(1) blockers and the cardiac sympatho-vagal balance during stress and daily activity in patients after acute myocardial infarction.
To compare the effects of a lipophilic and a hydrophilic beta(1) blocker on cardiac sympatho-vagal balance during daytime activity and stress in patients four to six weeks after myocardial infarction. ⋯ At the doses used in this study, atenolol achieved greater beta(1) adrenergic blockade than metoprolol CR and this was associated with significant inhibition of vagal withdrawal during stress. This suggests that peripheral blockade of beta(1) adrenergic receptors may be more important than central blockade in preventing stress induced vagal withdrawal in patients after myocardial infarction.