The importance of reducing heart rate in cardiovascular diseases: effects of Ivabradine

Minerva Med. 2011 Oct;102(5):373-9.

Abstract

Heart rate is a major determinant of cardiac output, myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary blood flow under physiological and pathological conditions. Experimental and clinical data have demonstrated that heart rate reduction is the main mechanism for reducing ischemia, improving left ventricular function, decreasing the risk of plaque rupture and post myocardial infarction mortality. Nowadays betablockers are the best class of drugs that can lower heart rate in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but sometimes their use is limited by some contraindications. Ivabradine is a new drug that reduces the firing rate of pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node through a different mechanism with respect to betablockers. The purpose of this review is to investigate the main trials that support Ivabradine adoption in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Angina Pectoris / drug therapy
  • Angina Pectoris / physiopathology
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology*
  • Cardiovascular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / drug effects
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / physiology
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Ivabradine
  • Myocardial Ischemia / prevention & control*
  • Prognosis
  • Sinoatrial Node / drug effects*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Benzazepines
  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • Ivabradine