Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor treatment improves left ventricular function and mortality in a murine model of doxorubicin-induced heart failure.

Background: Progression of heart failure after initial myocardial injury is mediated in part by various redundant inflammatory mediators, including the widely expressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Because COX-2 inhibitors are useful in treating many inflammation-mediated diseases, we asked whether COX-2 inhibition can attenuate heart failure progression.

Methods And Results: Heart failure was experimentally induced in 100 mice by administration of doxorubicin (4 mg.

Intravenous milrinone in treatment of advanced congestive heart failure.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as milrinone can relieve symptoms and improve hemodynamics in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. We retrospectively evaluated the hemodynamic and clinical outcomes of long-term combination therapy with intravenous milrinone and oral beta-blockers in 65 patients with severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class IV function and ejection fraction <25%) refractory to oral medical therapy. Fifty-one patients successfully began beta-blocker therapy while on intravenous milrinone.