Pulmonary hypertension and beta blockers: where do we stand? Where are we going?

B. Bugan, E.C. Roach

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. bbugan@hotmail.com

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• Cardiology

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic, progressive debilitating disease and associated with poor prognosis despite the novel numerous treatment options. Beta-blockers constitute a cornerstone in left heart failure treatment; however, we still don’t know the role of beta-blokers on PH and they are considered relatively contraindicated in patients with PH because of the possible negative effect on these patients’ hemodynamics and exercise capacity. On the other hand, animal models of PH and non-randomized clinical trials have shown that beta-blockers may improve right ventricular function and prevent remodeling in the heart muscle. As it is well-known, right heart function is the main prognostic determinants of the PH. The purpose of this chapter is to present the use of beta-blockers for the treatment of PH, the purported mechanisms of action, previously conducted animal studies and clinical trials.

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