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. 1989;28(Suppl 1):59S–64S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1989.tb03574.x

The management of heart failure and the scope for new therapies

What role for xamoterol?

R W F Campbell
PMCID: PMC1379877  PMID: 2572256

Abstract

1 Current therapy of heart failure leaves much to be desired. Not all patients respond, and many agents lose their effects with time.

2 Newer agents may be effective but toxic, and some which have a beneficial action when given intravenously have proved disappointing when used orally.

3 The value of digoxin in patients in sinus rhythm is open to debate, and diuretics, although useful acutely in reducing fluid overload, do not appear to improve prognosis.

4 Vasodilators increase effort capacity and reduce symptoms, possibly conferring some long-term benefit, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve symptoms and decrease mortality in a wide range of patients.

5 Positive inotropes may be effective in the short term, but they increase myocardial oxygen demand and show tachyphylaxis with no prognostic benefit.

6 Xamoterol (Corwin, Carwin, Corwil, Xamtol, ICI 118,587) is a partial sympathetic agonist with approximately 50% of the activity of a pure agonist, which provides inotropic support at rest, and protection against excess sympathetic activity on exercise.

7 It is compatible with other therapies and has shown no serious toxicity.

8 It should be considered at present as an adjunct to diuretic and/or ACE inhibitor therapy, although it may be useful alone; its role will become clearer as its effects on mortality are established.

Keywords: heart failure, xamoterol

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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