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We examined the time course of ventricular functional improvement in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who received beta-blockade and the long-term effects of beta-blockade on ventricular mass and geometry in these patients.

Previous studies have shown that beta-adrenergic blocking agents when administered long term improve ventricular function in patients with heart failure. However, the time course of improvement in ventricular function and the long-term effects of beta-blockade on ventricular mass and geometry are not known.

Twenty-six men with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent serial echocardiography on days 0 and 1 and months 1 and 3 of either metoprolol (n = 16) or standard therapy (n = 10). At 3 months all patients on standard therapy were crossed over to metoprolol, and late echocardiograms were obtained after 18 ± 5 (mean ± SD) months of …