Beta-blockade does not alter plasma cytokine concentrations and ventricular function in young adults with right ventricular dysfunction secondary to operated congenital heart disease.

Background: Right heart failure is a major problem of young adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) that has been corrected by cardiac surgery. In left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), beta-blocker therapy improved cytokine concentrations and clinical status. Thus, the effect of bisoprolol on clinical status and plasma cytokine concentrations in ACHD patients with right heart failure after surgical correction for Tetralogy of Fallot was investigated.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of beta-blockade in patients who have undergone surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Aims: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of a treatment over six months with bisoprolol on the surrogate parameters of N-Terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide, subsequently to be described as brain natriuretic peptide, peak uptake of oxygen, and ventricular function assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in grown ups and adults who had undergone surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods And Results: We designed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. We enrolled 33 patients, aged 30.