[Studies of the outcome of the treatment with beta-blockers in secondary prevention of the ischemic heart disease].

Convincing evidence of the decline of mortality has been achieved with beta-blockers in patients with an acute myocardial infarction and in post-infarction follow-up. The beta-blockers are also the most efficient antianginal medications for the decrease of ischemia in outpatients. They are highly efficient as a monotherapy for angina and are also a medication of choice for angina after the coronary. The objective of this work was an estimate of the use of beta-blockers in secondary prevention of the ischemic heart disease and eliminating doubts concerning their prescription. The method of the analysis sums up the results of a twenty-five-year study on of the outcome of the treatment with beta-blockers in secondary prevention of the ischemic heart disease. The method of the work implies an examination of the professional literature and the data-bases, such as MEDLINE, Pub-Med and KOBSON. The first studies concerned non-selective beta-blockers, used orally. The following studies concerned cardioselective beta-blockers, metoprolol and atenolol. Several studies followed also the effect of beta-blockers and heparin, or beta-blockers and antagonists of calcium towards placebo, in patients with an unstable angina pectoris. Beta-blockers are an essential drug in secondary prevention of the myocardial infarction and in chronic heart failure. The necessary condition for the efficiency of beta-blockers is an early use. Beta-blockers should be given within 12 hours after the appearance of pain. The continuation of the therapy with beta-blockers after the acute phase is considered to be important in the decrease of the infarction zone expansion. Prophylactic use of beta-blockers after the coronary has an excellent effect, above all in patients with a minor, uncomplicated coronary. Though certain groups of beta-blockers have some special characteristics, when it comes to the treatment of angina pectoris, all beta-blockers are efficient. Generally, patients react well to them. Preference is given to cardioselective remedies, in patients with diabetes or lung disease. Exhaustive controlled clinical studies affirm beta-blockers as drugs that reduce mortality in secondary prevention of the ischemic heart disease.