Beta-blocker therapy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (B-HFpEF): A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

While beta-blockers are considered the cornerstone of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the same may not apply to patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). To date, the benefit of beta-blockers remains uncertain, and there is no current consensus on their effectiveness. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of beta-blockers on mortality and rehospitalization among patients with HFpEF.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized or observational cohort studies examined the efficacy of beta-blocker therapy in comparison with placebo, control, or standard medical care in patients with HFpEF, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50 %. The main endpoints were mortality (i.e., all-cause and cardiovascular), rehospitalization (i.e., all-cause and for heart failure) and a composite of the two.

RESULTS

Out of the 13,189 records initially identified, 16 full-text records met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed recruiting a total of 27,188 patients. The mean age range was 62-84 years old, predominantly female, with HFpEF in which 63.4 % of patients received a beta-blocker and 36.6 % did not. The pooled analysis of included cohort studies, of variable follow-up durations, showed a significant reduction in all-cause mortality by 19 % (odds ratio (OR) 0.81; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.65-0.99, p = 0.044) whereas rehospitalization for heart failure (OR 1.13; 95 % CI: 0.91-1.41, p = 0.27) or its composite with all-cause mortality (OR 1.01; 95 % CI: 0.78-1.32, p = 0.92) were similar between the beta-blocker and control groups.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed that beta-blocker therapy has the potential to reduce all-cause mortality in patients with HFpEF based on observational studies. Nevertheless, it did not affect rehospitalization for heart failure or its composite with all-cause mortality. Large scale randomized trials are needed to clarify this uncertainty.

Cu-Co Bimetallic Catalyst-based Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Determination of Bisoprolol in Clinical Samples

BACKGROUND

Bisoprolol (BIS) is a selective beta-blocker. It has been successfully used to treat hypertension and angina pectoris. An overdose of BIS can lead to serious complications. An overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention to overcome the adverse effects of the overdose. Hence, sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective methods are required for the determination of BIS.

METHODS

In this work, a new electrochemical sensing platform based on a bimetallic catalyst was developed for the determination of BIS. The Cu-Co nanocatalyst was easily synthesized by galvanic displacement onto a carbon paste electrode (CPE). Then, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were utilized for the characterization of the Cu-Co catalyst.

RESULTS

The galvanic displacement of Cu metal significantly affected the electro-catalytic behavior of the Cu-Co catalyst and the Cu-Co/CPE electrode displayed a very sensitive and accurate response towards BIS. Under optimized conditions, the response was linear in the 3 to 120 μM concentration range, sensitivity of 631.1 μA mM-1 and a detection limit of as low as 0.4 μM using cyclic voltammetry. The simple proposed method was also successfully employed in the analysis of BIS in biological and pharmaceutical samples. The advantages of Cu-Co/CPE are its fast and simple manufacturing and the possibility of a repeated surface regeneration of the sensing platform, as well as its application for the detection of BIS in tablets and biological samples, making Cu-Co significant promise for use in clinical diagnostics. Besides, the synthesized catalysts showed excellent reusability and stability.

CONCLUSION

The presence of Cu metal due to galvanic displacement increased the sensitivity. These findings suggest that the new nanocatalyst has potential applications in sensors and electronics.

A Retrospective Observational Real-Word Analysis of the Adherence, Healthcare Resource Consumption and Costs in Patients Treated with Bisoprolol/Perindopril as Single-Pill or Free Combination

INTRODUCTION

The present real-world analysis aims to compare the drug utilization, hospitalizations and direct healthcare costs related to the use of single-pill combination (SPC) or free-equivalent combination (FEC) of perindopril and bisoprolol (PER/BIS) in a large Italian population.

METHODS

This observational retrospective analysis was based on administrative databases covering approximately 7 million subjects across Italy. All adult subjects receiving PER/BIS as SPC or FEC between January 2017-June 2020 were included. Subjects were followed for 1 year after the first prescription of PER/BIS as FEC (± 1 month) or SPC. Before comparing the SPC and FEC cohorts, propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the baseline characteristics. Drug utilization was investigated as adherence (defined by the proportion of days covered, PDC) and persistence (evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves). Hospitalizations and mean annual direct healthcare costs (due to drug prescriptions, hospitalizations and use of outpatient services) were analyzed during follow-up.

RESULTS

The original cohort included 11,440 and 6521 patients taking the SPC and FEC PER/BIS combination, respectively. After PSM, two balanced SPC and FEC cohorts of 4688 patients were obtained (mean age 70 years, approximately 50% male, 24% in secondary prevention). The proportion of adherent patients (PDC ≥ 80%) was higher for those on SPC (45.5%) than those on FEC (38.6%), p < 0.001. The PER/BIS combination was discontinued by 35.8% of patients in the SPC cohort and 41.7% in the FEC cohort (p < 0.001). The SPC cohort had fewer cardiovascular (CV) hospitalizations (5.3%) than the free-combination cohort (7.4%), p < 0.001. Mean annual total healthcare costs were lower in the SPC (1999€) than in the FEC (2359€) cohort (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In a real-world setting, patients treated with PER/BIS SPC showed higher adherence, lower risk of drug discontinuation, reduced risk of CV hospitalization, and lower healthcare costs than those on FEC of the same drugs.

Genetic polymorphisms in ADRB1, ADRB2 and CYP2D6 genes and response to beta-blockers in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Betablockers (BBs) are prescribed for ischaemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In Spain, bisoprolol and carvedilol are the most prescribed BBs, but patients often had to discontinue them due to adverse effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADRB1, ADRB2 and CYP2D6 genes have strong evidence of pharmacogenetic association with BBs in heart failure or hypertension, but the evidence in ACS is limited. Therefore, our study focuses on investigating how these genes influence the response to BBs in ACS patients. We analysed the association between SNPs in ADRB1 Gly389Arg (rs1801253) and Ser49Gly (rs1801252), ADRB2 Gly16Arg (rs1042713) and Glu27Gln (rs1042714), and CYP2D* 6 (*2- rs1080985, *4- rs3892097, *10 - rs1065852) and the occurrence of bradycardia/hypotension events during one year of follow-up. We performed an observational study and included 285 ACS-PCI-stent patients. A first analysis including patients treated with bisoprolol and a second analysis including patients treated with other BBs were performed. We found that the presence of the G allele (Glu) of the ADRB2 gene (rs1042714; Glu27Gln) conferred a protective effect against hypotension-induced by BBs; OR (CI 95%) = 0,14 (0,03-0,60), p < 0.01. The ADRB2 (rs1042713; Gly16Arg) GG genotype could also prevent hypotensive events; OR (CI 95%) = 0.49 (0.28-0.88), p = 0015. SNPs in ADRB1 and CYP2D6 * 2, CYP2D6 * 4 weren´t associated with primary events. The effect of CYP2D6 * 10 does not seem to be relevant for the response to BBs. According to our findings, SNPs in ADRB2 (rs1042713, rs1042714) could potentially affect the response and tolerance to BBs in ACS-patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify the impact of ADRB2 polymorphisms.

Identifying multi-target drugs for prostate cancer using machine learning-assisted transcriptomic analysis

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men, and the development of effective treatments is of great importance. This study explored to identify the candidate drugs for prostate cancer by transcriptomic data and CMap database analysis. After integrating the results of omics analysis, bisoprolol is confirmed as a promising drug. Moreover, cell experiment reveals its potential inhibitory effect on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Importantly, machine learning methods are employed to predict the targets of bisoprolol, and the dual-target ADRB3 and hERG are explored by dynamic simulation. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of bisoprolol as a multi-target drug for prostate cancer treatment and the feasibility of using beta-adrenergic receptor inhibitors in prostate cancer treatment. In addition, the proposed research approach is promising for discovering potential drugs for cancer treatment by leveraging the concept of drug side effects leading to anticancer effects. Further research is necessary to investigate the pharmacological action, potential toxicity, and underlying mechanisms of bisoprolol in treating prostate cancer with ADRB3.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Growth inhibition, oxidative stress and characterisation of mortality in green algae under the influence of beta-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Bisoprolol and ketoprofen are widely used pharmaceuticals in medical treatment hence these substances are occurring in wastewaters and in water environment. This research investigated the toxic effects of bisoprolol and ketoprofen on two microalgae taxa, Chlorella vulgaris and Desmodesmus armatus. The results showed that both drugs inhibited the growth of the species tested and induced a decrease in chlorophyll a content compared to controls. Ketoprofen turned out to be harmful to algae as the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values (14 days) were 37.69 mg L-1 for C. vulgaris and 40.93 mg L-1 for D. armatus. On the other hand, for bisoprolol, the EC50 values were greater than the established NOEC, 100 mg L-1. Bisoprolol and ketoprofen induced oxidative stress in the tested microorganisms, as indicated by changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Exposure to 100 mg L-1 of drugs significantly increased the activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Fluorescence microscopy showed that both medicaments changed the cells' morphology. There was atrophy of chlorophyll in the cells, moreover, dying multinuclear cells and cells without nuclei were observed. In addition, there were atrophic cells, namely cells that lacked nuclei and chlorophyll. Profile area analyses showed that bisoprolol and ketoprofen treated C. vulgaris cells were approximately 4 and 2 times greater compared to control ones. Our experimental findings highlight the ecotoxicological threats for aquatic primary producers from bisoprolol and ketoprofen and provide insight into the characteristics of their death.

Does preoperative administration of hypotensive agents affect the quality of the surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery? A triple-blind randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is a surgical procedure widely used in the treatment of various sinonasal conditions. Excessive bleeding during ESS leads to potentially major complications. The primary aim of this trial was to explore any different effects of bisoprolol and nifedipine on the intraoperative surgical field. In addition, the correlations regarding surgical field state, total blood loss (TBL), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were also examined.

METHODS

A prospective, triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, including 72 patients between 18 and 65 years of age who underwent ESS. As an indicator of the worst state of the intraoperative surgical field, the Boezaart scale score was used, as evaluated by two surgeons. Appropriate statistical analysis was conducted to explore score comparisons across groups and correlations between vital signs, bleeding, and the operative field state.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found among different intervention groups regarding the worst state of the surgical field (p = 0.367 > 0.05). The Boezaart scale score was positively correlated with TBL (rxy = 0.619, p = 0.000 < 0.001) and MAP (rxy = 0.259, p = 0.028 < 0.05). Furthermore, MAP was positively correlated with HR (rs = 0.254, p = 0.32 < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that preoperative administration of bisoprolol and nifedipine does not affect the worst state of the operative field. However, vital signs seem to either directly or indirectly affect bleeding and operative field state, and agents affecting them are worth exploring further.

Efficacy and safety of bisoprolol 5 mg plus amlodipine 5 mg in patients with hypertension uncontrolled on monotherapy with 5 mg of amlodipine, a phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial - the AMCOR study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antihypertensive effect and safety of bisoprolol 5 mg (BISO5mg) and amlodipine 5 mg (AMLO5mg) combination in comparison to AMLO5mg in hypertensive subjects uncontrolled with AMLO5mg.

METHODS

Phase III, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trial with parallel design (EudraCT Number: 2019-000751-13).

RESULTS

367 patients aged 57.58 ± 14.62 years were randomized to BISO5mg once daily on top of AMLO5mg (n = 181) or placebo on top of AMLO5mg (n = 186). Systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in the bisoprolol-treated group was reduced by 7.2 ± 12.74/3.95 ± 8.85 mmHg at 4 weeks (both p < .0001) and by 5.5 ± 12.44/3.84 ± 9.46 mmHg at 8 weeks (p < .0001/p < .0002) compared to placebo control. Bisoprolol-treated group had lower heart rate than placebo control (difference -7.23 ± 9.84/-6.25 ± 9.26 beats per minute at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, both p < .0001). Both target SBP and DBP was achieved at 4 weeks by 62 vs. 41% (p = .0002) and at 8 weeks by 65 vs. 46% (p = .0004) of bisoprolol-treated patients and placebo group patients, respectively. SBP <140 mmHg was achieved at 4 and 8 weeks in 68 and 69% of bisoprolol-treated patients and 45 and 50% of placebo group patients, respectively. No deaths and serious adverse events were reported. Adverse events occurred in 34 bisoprolol-treated patients vs. 22 patients in the placebo group (p = .064). Bisoprolol was withdrawn due to adverse events in 7 patients, mostly (n = 4) due to asymptomatic bradycardia.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of bisoprolol to patients uncontrolled with amlodipine monotherapy significantly improves blood pressure control. We can expect additional 7.2/3.95 mmHg SBP/DBP lowering effect by adding bisoprolol 5 mg to amlodipine 5 mg.

Effectiveness and Tolerability of Bisoprolol/Perindopril Single-Pill Combination in Patients with Arterial Hypertension and a History of Myocardial Infarction: The PRIDE Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed the real-life effectiveness of a single-pill combination (SPC) of bisoprolol/perindopril for controlling blood pressure (BP) and symptoms of angina in patients with hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

Eligible patients with arterial hypertension and a history of MI were aged 18-79 years and had initiated bisoprolol/perindopril SPC within 3 months of study enrollment as part of routine Russian clinical practice. The primary endpoint was mean change in systolic and diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) at week 12 compared with baseline (data collected retrospectively). Secondary endpoints were assessed at weeks 4 and 12 and included mean change in resting heart rate (HR), proportion of patients reaching target level of resting HR, antianginal effectiveness of the SPC, and proportion of patients reaching target BP levels.

RESULTS

A total of 504 patients were enrolled, of whom 481 comprised the full analysis set (mean age 61.4 ± 8.9 years, 68% men). Mean baseline SBP/DBP and HR values were 148.9 ± 16.8/87.7 ± 11.0 mmHg and 77.4 ± 10.5 bpm, respectively. Mean durations of hypertension and CAD were 12.8 ± 8.4 and 6.1 ± 6.3 years, respectively, and time since MI was 3.8 ± 5.3 years. At week 12, SBP/DBP had decreased by 24.9/12.2 mmHg (P < 0.001 vs baseline). Target BP (< 140/90 mmHg) was achieved by 69.8% and 95.9% of patients at weeks 4 and 12, respectively, and target HR (55-60 bpm) by 17.3% and 34.5% at weeks 4 and 12 versus 3.1% at baseline (P < 0.001). Reductions in angina attacks, nitrate consumption, and improvements in HR were statistically significant. Treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of symptomatic patients with CAD, hypertension, and a history of MI with a bisoprolol/perindopril SPC was associated with significant decreases in SBP/DBP and a high proportion of patients achieving BP treatment goals. This was accompanied by improvements in angina symptoms and reductions in HR in a broad patient population representative of those seen in everyday clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04656847.

Managing postoperative atrial fibrillation after open-heart surgery using transdermal β1 blockers

BACKGROUND

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after open-heart surgery is a non-negligible complication. We aimed to describe the efficacy of a transdermal patch of bisoprolol for managing POAF and flutter in thoracic surgical procedures.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of 384 patients who underwent open-heart surgery at our hospital and received oral bisoprolol to prevent POAF. Among them, 65 patients (16.9%) also received a 4-mg transdermal patch of bisoprolol to control the heart rate due to POAF. We applied the bisoprolol transdermal patch when the heart rate was > 80 bpm and removed it at ≤ 60 bpm; an additional patch was applied when the heart rate was > 140 bpm. Heparin calcium injections were administered twice daily for anticoagulation between 2 and 6 days postoperatively.

RESULTS

The average number of prescriptions for transdermal patches of bisoprolol during hospitalization was 1.8 ± 1.1 (1-5). The median first prescription date was on postoperative day 2 (range: days 0-37). Sinus rhythm recovered within 24 h in 18 patients (27.7%). Eight patients (12.3%) were switched to continuous landiolol infusion because of persistent tachycardia. In three patients, the transdermal patch was removed owing to severe bradycardia. Fifteen patients experienced persistent atrial fibrillation and were treated with electrical cardioversion during hospitalization. We did not observe any serious complications that could be directly attributed to bisoprolol transdermal patch use.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-use bisoprolol transdermal patch may help control the heart rate during the initial treatment of POAF after open-heart surgery.

Patient-friendly extemporaneous formulation of bisoprolol: application to stability and bioavailability studies

Community and hospital pharmacists always face the challenge to prepare oral liquid extemporaneous formulations to fit the needs of a specific patient population when commercial forms or the required strength is unavailable. This study was performed to prepare a stable patient-friendly oral liquid extemporaneous formulation of bisoprolol. Eight different extemporaneous formulations were prepared using various suspending agent(s). The in vitro dissolution of all extemporaneous formulations was examined. A comprehensive accelerated stability study was carried out to evaluate the adequate beyond-use date of the most optimized extemporaneous formulation. A validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography method was used for the analysis and quantification of bisoprolol in the accelerated stability and bioavailability studies. A group of eight healthy volunteers was enrolled in a two-way cross-over experimental design to study the bioavailability of the most optimized extemporaneous formulation. The pharmacokinetic parameters of bisoprolol were estimated. Extemporaneous suspension containing 0.5% w/v xanthan gum was easily prepared with a simple, natural, safe, sugar-free excipients. It achieved the best dissolution behavior among other extemporaneous suspensions. It was an easily pourable viscous suspension with no sedimentation. At least 98% of the initial concentration of bisoprolol remained throughout the 6-month study period in the selected suspension regardless of the storage conditions. There was no perceptible change in color, odor, or taste, and no noticeable microbial growth was observed in any sample. The selected formulation was bioequivalent to the commercial tablet in terms of the rate and extent of absorption. This research may be of great help during development of appropriate extemporaneous formulation of bisoprolol fumarate. The simple preparation method could be utilized to draw up a standard operating procedure (SOP) easy to use by different types of pharmacy settings.

The Effect of Bisoprolol on Premature Ventricular Complex in Vietnamese Patients with Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a common arrhythmia that causes a large number of clinical symptoms, adversely impacts the quality of life, and can even initiate serious arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The incidence of premature ventricular contraction is higher in hypertensive patients, particularly if concomitant left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is present.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted on the characteristics of PVC in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and aimed to evaluate the effect of bisoprolol on PVC in Vietnamese patients with hypertension and LVH.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We conducted a study to determine how bisoprolol potency affected PVC management in the group with both high blood pressure and LVH. We selected a convenient sample of all patients who came to the Medical Examination Department at the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and met sampling criteria with hypertension, LVH on echocardiography, and PVC on 12-leads electrocardiogram. Over 2 years, we collected 76 patients who satisfied the above conditions. Out of which, 50 patients were indicated for management with bisoprolol, and 26 patients were excluded from the study, including 7 patients with asthma and 19 patients who had simple PVC on a 24-hour Holter ECG. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 22.

RESULTS

Fifty patients participated in the study, of whom 70% were female. It is clear that palpitation was the most prevalent symptom (66%), and 38% of patients had complicated PVC (Lown III-V). When treating PVC with bisoprolol, 50% of patients achieved the treatment goal with a decrease in the number of PVCs of more than 70%, accompanied by symptom relief and eradication of dangerous PVCs. After 4 weeks of treatment, bisoprolol decreased the number of PVCs, heart rate, and blood pressure while also easing PVC-related symptoms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Low-dose bisoprolol effectively reduces the number of PVCs in hypertensive patients with LVH.

Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade Effects on Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Beta-blockers are increasingly prescribed while the effects of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET)-derived parameters remain under-studied.

METHODS

Twenty-one young healthy adults repeated three CPET at the same time with an interval of 7 days between each test. The tests were performed 3 h after a random, double-blind, cross-over single-dose intake of placebo, 2.5 mg or 5.0 mg bisoprolol, a cardio-selective beta1-adrenoreceptor antagonist. Gas exchange, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured at rest and during cyclo-ergometric incremental CPET.

RESULTS

Maximal workload and VO₂max were unaffected by the treatment, with maximal respiratory exchange ratio > 1.15 in all tests. A beta-blocker dose-dependent effect reduced resting and maximal BP and HR and the chronotropic response to exercise, evaluated by the HR/VO₂ slope (placebo: 2.9 ± 0.4 beat/ml/kg; 2.5 mg bisoprolol: 2.4 ± 0.5 beat/ml/kg; 5.0 mg bisoprolol: 2.3 ± 0.4 beat/ml/kg, p < 0.001). Ventilation efficiency measured by the VE/VCO₂ slope and the ventilatory equivalent for CO₂ at the ventilatory threshold were not affected by beta1-receptor blockade. Post-exercise chronotropic recovery measured after 1 min was enhanced under beta1-blocker (placebo: 26 ± 7 bpm; 2.5 mg bisoprolol: 32 ± 6 bpm; 5.0 mg bisoprolol: 33 ± 6 bpm, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present results suggest that a single dose of bisoprolol does not affect metabolism, respiratory response and exercise capacity. However, beta-adrenergic blockade dose dependently reduces exercise hemodynamic response by lowering BP and the chronotropic response.

A growing evidence base for the fixed-dose combination of bisoprolol and amlodipine to manage hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although current drug therapies can be effective, management of hypertension is closely linked to patient adherence to therapy. A fixed-dose combination (FDC) of bisoprolol and amlodipine has shown to be effective and convenient, and to significantly improve patient adherence.

METHODS

This narrative review evaluates recent evidence from four studies which explore the efficacy, safety, and adherence of FDC bisoprolol and amlodipine in patients with hypertension: one observational study; two randomized clinical trials (RCTs); and one indirect comparison analysis.

RESULTS

All four studies support the efficacy of FDC bisoprolol and amlodipine in the management of hypertension, highlighting clinically meaningful reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and high adherence. In a large cohort study exploring FDC bisoprolol and amlodipine in daily practice, high adherence improved BP and heart rate control versus baseline. In a Phase 3 RCT, FDC bisoprolol and amlodipine demonstrated superiority over monotherapies in BP control and a positive tolerability profile, further supporting its use to manage hypertension in second line following monotherapy. In another Phase 3 RCT, the combination of bisoprolol and amlodipine led to significant BP reductions versus monotherapy with amlodipine with a comparable safety profile. Finally, in the indirect treatment comparison, a low dose combination of bisoprolol and amlodipine showed a similar decrease in systolic BP compared with a maximum dose of amlodipine.

CONCLUSIONS

This review adds to growing evidence supporting the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of FDC bisoprolol and amlodipine in managing hypertension.

Use of the oral beta blocker bisoprolol to reduce the rate of exacerbation in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a randomised controlled trial (BICS)

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Beta blockers are well-established drugs widely used to treat cardiovascular conditions. Observational studies consistently report that beta blocker use in people with COPD is associated with a reduced risk of COPD exacerbations. The bisoprolol in COPD study (BICS) investigates whether adding bisoprolol to routine COPD treatment has clinical and cost-effective benefits. A sub-study will risk stratify participants for heart failure to investigate whether any beneficial effect of bisoprolol is restricted to those with unrecognised heart disease.

Methods

BICS is a pragmatic randomised parallel group double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in UK primary and secondary care sites. The major inclusion criteria are an established predominant respiratory diagnosis of COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV₁ < 80% predicted, FEV₁/FVC < 0.7), a self-reported history of ≥ 2 exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids in a 12-month period since March 2019, age ≥ 40 years and a smoking history ≥ 10 pack years. A computerised randomisation system will allocate 1574 participants with equal probability to intervention or control groups, stratified by centre and recruitment in primary/secondary care. The intervention is bisoprolol (1.25 mg tablets) or identical placebo. The dose of bisoprolol/placebo is titrated up to a maximum of 4 tablets a day (5 mg bisoprolol) over 4–7 weeks depending on tolerance to up-dosing of bisoprolol/placebo—these titration assessments are completed by telephone or video call. Participants complete the remainder of the 52-week treatment period on the final titrated dose (1, 2, 3, 4 tablets) and during that time are followed up at 26 and 52 weeks by telephone or video call. The primary outcome is the total number of participant reported COPD exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics during the 52-week treatment period. A sub-study will risk stratify participants for heart failure by echocardiography and measurement of blood biomarkers.

Discussion

The demonstration that bisoprolol reduces the incidence of exacerbations would be relevant not only to patients and clinicians but also to healthcare providers, in the UK and globally.

Trial registration

Current controlled trials ISRCTN10497306. Registered on 16 August 2018

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06226-8.

Advanced chemometric methods as powerful tools for impurity profiling of drug substances and drug products: Application on bisoprolol and perindopril binary mixture

Impurity profiling has a rising importance nowadays due to the increased health problems associated with impurities and degradation products found in several drug substances and formulations. Three advanced, accurate and precise chemometric methods were developed as impurity profiling methods for a mixture of bisoprolol fumarate (BIS) and perindopril arginine (PER) with their degradation products which represent drug impurity or a precursor to such impurity. The methods applied were Partial Least Squares (PLS-1), Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used as a variable selection tool to select the most significant wavelengths for the three chemometric models. For proper analysis, a 5-factor 5-level experimental design was used to establish a calibration set of 25 mixtures containing different ratios of the drugs and their degradation products (impurities). The validity of the proposed methods was assessed using an independent validation set. The designed models were able to predict the concentrations of the drugs and the degradation products/impurities in the validation set and pharmaceutical formulation. The proposed methods presented a powerful alternative to traditional and expensive chromatographic methods as impurity profiling tools.

Effectiveness and Tolerability of Trimetazidine 80 Mg Once Daily in Patients with Stable Angina Uncontrolled with Bisoprolol-Based Therapy: The Modus Vivendi Observational Study

Introduction

Modus Vivendi was conducted in routine clinical practice to evaluate the effect of adding trimetazidine 80 mg once daily (TMZ 80 OD) to treat patients with persistent symptoms despite treatment with background antianginal therapies including maximally tolerated bisoprolol.

Methods

This multicenter, prospective, observational, open-label, uncontrolled study recruited adult outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of stable angina to whom physicians had decided to prescribe TMZ 80 OD. All patients were symptomatic despite treatment, including maximally tolerated doses of bisoprolol. Data on number of angina attacks, use of short-acting nitrates, and quality of life (QoL) were collected at baseline (V1) and at 1-month (V2) and 3-month (V2) follow-up visits. Two sub-analyses assessed efficacy in patients who remained on a stable bisoprolol dose throughout the study, and in patients in whom background antianginal therapy was known.

Results

A total of 1939 patients were recruited (57.2% women). The mean age was 65.6 ± 8.8 years; 73.8% had class II and 26.2% class III angina. At V1, the mean number of angina attacks per week was 6.2 ± 6.5 despite antianginal therapy including maximally tolerated bisoprolol dosage. Following the addition of TMZ 80 OD, this decreased to 3.4 ± 4.2 attacks per week at V2, and 1.6 ± 2.6 at V3 (P < 0.05 at V2 and V3), with concomitant reductions in short-acting nitrate use (P < 0.05). Significant improvements in QoL were observed throughout the study. Subgroup analyses showed that the addition of TMZ 80 OD to guideline-recommended antianginal therapy was associated with significant reductions in the mean number of weekly angina attacks and consumption of short-acting nitrates and improvements in QoL whether patients were treated with maximally tolerated bisoprolol and TMZ 80 OD alone, or maximally tolerated bisoprolol and TMZ 80 OD on top of other antianginal therapies. Treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusion

The study findings support the addition of TMZ 80 OD to bisoprolol with or without other antianginal therapies for patients with persistent angina.

Trial Registration

This study was retrospectively registered under the number ISRCTN29992579.

Perspective on the role of four beta-blockers in heart failure

BACKGROUND

The current recommendations of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and a previous Bayesian analysis clearly show a mortality benefit with the use of β- blockers in chronic HF, especially for bisoprolol, carvedilol, and sustained-release metoprolol succinate.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective was to report the evidence on the use of the afore-mentioned β-blockers in subjects with heart failure and to characterize the stages of heart failure in response to the four different β-blockers. Furthermore, it shed light on the patient's satisfaction and improved quality of life using the afore-mentioned β-blockers in subjects with heart failure.

METHOD

The current perspective presented the clinical outcomes, including hospitalization, morbidity, mortality, patient's satisfaction, and quality of life, of four beta (β)-blockers, namely bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, and nebivolol in different stages of heart failure.

RESULTS

The use of these three agents should be recommended for all stable subjects with current or previous symptoms of heart failure and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction unless there is any contraindication. The fore-mentioned β-blockers (bisoprolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol succinate) can be initiated early, even in stable and symptom-free (at rest) subjects with heart failure. β-blockers in heart failure should be commenced at small doses and then titrated upward as tolerated to achieve the desired clinical effects on heart rate and symptom control.

CONCLUSION

Cardiologists should weigh the benefit-risk in subjects with heart failure and other co-existing cardiovascular problems such as atrial fibrillation and diabetes.

The Results from a Moscow Randomized Study

PURPOSE

To compare the effect of 12 months of treatment with moxonidine or bisoprolol on telomerase activity (TA) and parameters characterizing the arterial wall state in postmenopausal women with arterial hypertension (AH) and osteopenia.

METHODS

An open-label randomized study with 114 postmenopausal women with hypertension and osteopenia; pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), and TA were analyzed initially and after 12 months of therapy with moxonidine (n = 57) or bisoprolol (n = 57).

RESULTS

Both medications effectively lowered blood pressure (BP) in both groups. After 12 months, the moxonidine group showed a significant increase in TA by 45.5% (from 0.87 to 1.15; p < 0.001), in contrast to the bisoprolol group, where TA decreased by 14.1% (from 0.89 to 0.74; p = 0.001). Within 12 months, in the moxonidine group, PWV decreased by 1.9% (from 10.35 ± 2.56 to 10.05 ± 2.29 m/s; p = 0.039), and in the bisoprolol group it increased by 5.8% (from 10.36 ± 2.47 to 11.26 ± 2.60 m/s; p < 0.001). In the moxonidine group, IMT increased by 3.5% on the right and 1.4% on the left, in the bisoprolol group - by 5.7% on the right and 4.2% on the left.

CONCLUSION

A 12-month treatment with moxonidine but not with bisoprolol in postmenopausal women with AH and osteoporosis was associated with a decrease of arterial stiffness seen as statistically significantly reduced PVW and with increased TA.

Pharmacogenetic polymorphisms affecting bisoprolol response

β-blockers are commonly prescribed to treat multiple cardiovascular (CV) diseases, but, frequently, adverse drug reactions and intolerance limit their use in clinical practice. Interindividual variability in response to β-blockers may be explained by genetic differences. In fact, pharmacogenetic interactions for some of these drugs have been widely studied, such as metoprolol. But studies that explore genetic variants affecting bisoprolol response are inconclusive, limited or confusing because of mixed results with other β-Blockers, different genetic polymorphisms observed, endpoint studied etc. Because of this, we performed a systematic review in order to find relevant genetic variants affecting bisoprolol response. We have found genetic polymorphism in several genes, but most of the studies focused in ADRB variants. The ADRB1 Arg389Gly (rs1801253) was the most studied genetic polymorphism and it seems to influence the response to bisoprolol, although studies are inconclusive. Even, we performed a meta-analysis about its influence on systolic/diastolic blood pressure in patients treated with bisoprolol, but this did not show statistically significant results. In conclusion, many genetic polymorphisms have been assessed about their influence on patients´ response to bisoprolol and the ADRB1 Arg389Gly (rs1801253) seems the most relevant genetic polymorphism in this regard but results have not been confirmed with a meta-analysis. Our results support the need of further studies about the impact of genetic variants on bisoprolol response, considering different genetic polymorphisms and conducting single and multiple SNPs analysis, including other clinical parameters related to bisoprolol response in a multivariate study.

Therapeutic Properties of Highly Selective β-blockers With or Without Additional Vasodilator Properties: Focus on Bisoprolol and Nebivolol in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Bisoprolol and nebivolol are highly selective β₁-adrenoceptor antagonists, with clinical indications in many countries within the management of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and hypertension. Nebivolol has additional vasodilator actions, related to enhanced release of NO in the vascular wall. In principle, this additional mechanism compared with bisoprolol might lead to more potent vasodilatation, which in turn might influence the effectiveness of nebivolol in the management of HFrEF, IHD and hypertension. In this article, we review the therapeutic properties of bisoprolol and nebivolol, as representatives of “second generation” and “third generation” β-blockers, respectively. Although head-to-head trials are largely lacking, there is no clear indication from published studies of an additional effect of nebivolol on clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF or the magnitude of reductions of BP in patients with hypertension.

Preventative effects of bisoprolol transdermal patches on postoperative atrial fibrillation in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: A subanalysis of the MAMACARI study

BACKGROUND

Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after non-cardiac surgery is a risk factor for cardiovascular events including stroke and death. The aim of this subanalysis of the MAMACARI study, a multicenter randomized control study on the effectiveness of a bisoprolol transdermal patch for prevention of perioperative myocardial injury in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, was to identify the predictors of POAF after non-cardiac surgery in high-risk patients and to determine changes in blood pressure and heart rate during bisoprolol patch administration in the perioperative period.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients aged over 60 years with hypertension and a high revised cardiac risk index (≥2) who were scheduled to undergo non-cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to a bisoprolol patch group (n = 120) or a control group (n = 120). We divided the patients into two groups: patients with POAF (POAF group; n = 16) and patients without POAF (non-POAF group; n = 206). Multivariate analysis showed that bisoprolol patch therapy (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.092-0.978) and surgery time of 250 min or more (OR: 4.99, 95% CI: 1.37-18.2) were independently associated with POAF. Although systolic blood pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups throughout the perioperative period, treatment with a bisoprolol patch significantly reduced heart rate throughout the perioperative period compared with that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Low dose of a bisoprolol patch in the perioperative period was effective for prevention of POAF after non-cardiac surgery in high-risk patients, while long surgery time was an independent risk factor for POAF. It is expected that low dose of a bisoprolol patch can prevent POAF without causing hypotension.

Temporal haemodynamic changes after bisoprolol treatment in patients with uncontrolled hypertension

Background

Anti-hypertensive drugs are widely used to control blood pressure, yet their effects on haemodynamics, especially in Chinese populations, and the potential for non-invasive methods to monitor these changes, are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the early and late effects of bisoprolol treatment on blood pressure, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), systematic vascular resistance (SVR), and inotropy measured in Chinese patients with hypertension.

Methods

Twelve Chinese subjects (median age: 55 years, interquartile range: 52-58 years; 33% male) with uncontrolled hypertension were recruited at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong and haemodynamic measurements were assessed using a non-invasive Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM). Seven hourly measurements were taken before and after bisoprolol 2.5 mg on day 1 (T0 to T6), and in nine patients this was repeated six weeks later (TF0 to TF6). Any BP change of 5 mmHg was considered clinically significant and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

On day 1 (N=12), there was a significant drop in median CO [4.9 (4.7-5.6) vs. 3.8 (3.3-4.7) L/m², P<0.0001] associated with a compensatory increase in SVR [1,698.1 (1,584.6-1,894.3) vs. 2,222.6 (1,777.4-2,712.5) d·s·cm^-5, P<0.0001] at T2. The median dBP {92 [87-95] vs. 86 [79-89] mmHg, P=0.0002} and MAP {110 [104-114] vs. 104 [101-109] mmHg, P=0.038} reduced significantly 6 hours after bisoprolol treatment. Except for HR, all other measured haemodynamics returned to baseline at T6. On week 6 (N=9), SVR was generally reduced, but major parallel swings in CO and SVR were still evident. All patients showed a trend to lower blood pressure, SVR, and inotropy (P<0.05), but HR, SV, and CO returned to baseline values after 6 weeks treatment (P>0.05).

Conclusions

The acute haemodynamic changes between 6 hours of the first dose and the dose after 6 weeks of bisoprolol treatment are similar. Long-term therapy can effectively reduce blood pressure by reducing SVR.

Effectiveness and Tolerability of the Single-Pill Combination of Bisoprolol and Perindopril in Patients with Arterial Hypertension and Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Daily Clinical Practice: The STYLE Study

INTRODUCTION

Combination antihypertensive therapy is required by most patients to achieve guideline-recommended blood pressure (BP) goals. This study assessed the effectiveness and tolerability of bisoprolol/perindopril (Bis/Per) single-pill combination (SPC) in Russian patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) treated in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

STYLE (NCT03730116) was an open-label, uncontrolled, prospective observational study conducted in patients who were already receiving Bis/Per SPC, switched to SPC from Bis or Per monotherapy, or switched from a free combination of Bis and Per. Primary endpoint criteria were assessed at 1 and 3 months and included change in mean office systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), proportion achieving target BP (< 140/90 mmHg), and measures of antianginal effectiveness.

RESULTS

The full analysis set comprised 1892 subjects. Mean age was 61.9 ± 8.8 years, 53.2% were women, and mean durations of hypertension and CAD were 12.5 ± 7.9 and 7.2 ± 6.4 years, respectively. Mean SBP/DBP decreased by 22.3/11.0 mmHg and 31.5/15.9 mmHg at 1 and 3 months, respectively (P < 0.0001 vs baseline). Target BP was achieved by 49.2% and 86.7% of patients at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Reductions in mean number of angina attacks and nitrate consumption and improvements in heart rate were statistically significant. Treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of patients with hypertension and CAD with Bis/Per SPC for 3 months was associated with significant decreases in SBP/DBP and a high proportion of patients achieving BP treatment goals. This was accompanied by an improvement in angina symptoms. Treatment was well tolerated in a broad patient population representative of those seen in everyday clinical practice.

Study on the application effect of bisoprolol combined with sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with acute myocardial infarction combined with left heart failure after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

BACKGROUND

To analyze the application effect of bisoprolol combined with sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with acute myocardial infarction combined with left heart failure after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Patients were divided into a control group (bisoprolol), with 39 cases, and a combination group (bisoprolol combined with sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets), with 42 cases, according to their different medications after surgery. The 6-min walking test distance, heart rate, oxygen saturation, serological indicators, cardiac function, incidence of cardiac adverse events, and adverse reactions of patients were compared between the 2 groups after treatment.

RESULTS

The 6-min walking distance of the combination group was significantly higher than that of the control group, the heart rate was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), and there was no difference in oxygen saturation (P>0.05). The levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and aldosterone (ALD) after treatment in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) of the combination group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly higher (P<0.05). There was no difference in left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) level (P>0.05). The proportion of normal diastolic function in the combination group was 78.57%, which was significantly higher than 43.59% in the control group, and the proportion of grade II was significantly lower than that in the control group (4.76% vs. 25.64%) (P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse cardiac events 6 months after treatment in the combination group was 9.52%, which was significantly lower than 25.364% in the control group (P<0.05). There were no deaths in the 2 groups, and there was no difference in adverse reactions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Bisoprolol combined with sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets has a good application effect in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with acute myocardial infarction combined with left heart failure after PCI. It can promote cardiac rehabilitation and improve cardiac function, and reduce the incidence of cardiac adverse events.

Pretreatment with bisoprolol and vitamin E alone or in combination provides neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induces selective neuronal injury in the hippocampus, leading to severe impairment in behavior, learning, and memory functions. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of bisoprolol (biso) and vitamin E (vit E) treatment alone or in combination on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. A total of 30 male rats were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6), sham, I/R, I/R + biso, I/R + vit E, and I/R + biso+vit E. Cerebral I/R group underwent global ischemia by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 20 min. Treatment groups received drugs once daily intraperitoneally for 7 days before the I/R induction. Locomotive and cognitive behaviors were utilized by open-field and Morris water maze tests. After behavioral testing, the brain was removed and processed to evaluate cerebral infarct size, histopathologic changes, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. In I/R group tissue MDA and MPO levels and cerebral infarct size were significantly increased in comparison with the sham group. Furthermore, significant deficits were observed in locomotion and spatial memory after I/R. The areas of cerebral infarction, MPO, and MDA levels in biso, vit E, and combination group were significantly reduced compared with I/R group. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in leukocyte infiltration in all treated groups with the most profound reduction in the combination group. According to the behavioral tests, administration of biso and/or vit E protected locomotive ability and improved spatial memory after cerebral I/R. Our findings show that biso and vit E have beneficial effects against the I/R injury and due to their synergistic effects when administered in combination, may have a more pronounced protective effect on the cerebral I/R injury.

Bisoprolol-based 18F-PET tracer: Synthesis and preliminary in vivo validation of β1-blocker selectivity for β1-adrenergic receptors in the heart

The selectivity of a drug toward various isoforms of the target protein family is important in terms of toxicology. Typically, drug or candidate selectivity is assessed by in vitro assays, but in vivo investigations are currently lacking. Positron emission tomography (PET) allows the non-invasive determination of the in vivo distribution of a radiolabeled drug, which can provide in vivo data regarding drug selectivity. Since the discovery of propranolol, a non-selective β-blocker inhibiting both β₁- and β₂-adrenoreceptors (β-ARs), various selective β₁-blockers, including bisoprolol, have been developed to overcome disadvantages associated with β₂-AR inhibition. As a proof of concept, we performed an in vivo PET study to understand the selectivity and efficacy of bisoprolol as a selective β-blocker toward β₁-AR, as the heart and peripheral smooth muscles demonstrate distinct populations of β₁- and β₂-ARs. Biodistribution of ¹⁸F-labeled bisoprolol (1, [¹⁸F]bisoprolol) showed the retention of its uptake in the heart compared with other β-AR-rich organs at late time points post-injection. The competitive blocking assay using unlabeled bisoprolol exhibited no inhibition of [¹⁸F]bisoprolol uptake in any organ but exhibited significantly rapid loss of radioactivity between two different time points in β₁-AR-rich organs such as the heart and brain. Furthermore, the organ-to-blood ratio revealed the slow excretion and better accumulation of [¹⁸F]bisoprolol inside the heart. Collectively, the ex vivo biodistribution and blocking study presented insightful evidence to better comprehend the in vivo distribution pattern of bisoprolol as a selective inhibitor targeting β₁-ARs in the heart and provided the possibility of PET as an in vivo technique for evaluating drug selectivity.

Preoperative gabapentin versus bisoprolol for haemodynamic and surgical field optimisation during endoscopic sinus surgery: A randomised controlled trial

Background and Aims:

Appropriate premedication can optimise haemodynamics and hence surgical field visibility during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This study aimed to compare the intraoperative effect of gabapentin 1200 mg versus bisoprolol 2.5 mg, given 2 hours before ESS.

Methods:

Patients were assigned into one of three groups. Patients of gabapentin group received preoperative oral gabapentin 1200 mg while, patients of bisoprolol and control groups received oral bisoprolol 2.5 mg and placebo respectively 2 hours before ESS. Primary outcome: reduction of blood loss and surgical field quality. Secondary outcome: haemodynamic control. mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded as baseline, before and after induction of anaesthesia, at 1, 5, 10, 15 minutes after intubation and then every 15 minutes until the end of surgery. Data also included Fromm and Boezaart category scale (assessed every 15 min), intraoperative blood loss, surgeon satisfaction score, intraoperative anaesthetic/analgesic and vasoactive medications requirements.

Results:

Out of 66 eligible patients, 60 patients completed the study. Intraoperative MAP and HR were significantly lower and more stable in gabapentin and bisoprolol groups compared to control group (p < 0.05). The volume of blood loss was significantly lower (p 0.000) and operative field was more visible in gabapentin and bisoprolol groups than those in control group (p 0.000).

Conclusion:

The beneficial effect of gabapentin 1200 mg on intraoperative haemodynamic control and surgical field visibility is comparable to that of bisoprolol 2.5 mg when either of them is given as a single oral dose 2 hours before ESS.

Trimetazidine and Bisoprolol to Treat Angina in Symptomatic Patients: Post Hoc Analysis From the CHOICE-2 Study

Introduction

Angina is the cardinal symptom of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), which is the leading cause of death worldwide. As such, the control of angina is important. The current guidelines recommend beta blockers (BB) or calcium channel blockers to reduce angina, yet many patients with stable angina remain symptomatic. It has been suggested that combining trimetazidine (TMZ), an anti-ischemic agent, with a BB is beneficial for symptomatic patients. Bisoprolol, a BB, is often used to treat patients with CCS, yet no data are currently available regarding the efficacy of bisoprolol combined with TMZ in patients who remain symptomatic despite receiving bisoprolol.

Methods

The aim of this post-hoc analysis of the CHOICE-2 study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TMZ 35 mg twice daily in combination with different bisoprolol doses in symptomatic patients with stable angina patients receiving hemodynamic therapy in a real-world clinical setting.

Results

This analysis involved 221 patients (mean [± standard deviation] age 64.8 ± 8.9 years) with stable angina. The mean number of weekly angina episodes gradually fell from 6.2 ± 5.3 at inclusion (M0) to 1.5 ± 1.9 at 6 months after treatment initiation (M6) with combined TMZ–bisoprolol therapy (P < 0.001). The number of patients assessed to be angina-free increased almost sixfold from 5.4% (12/221) at M0 to 33.9% (74/221) at M6. Exercise capacity improved, as measured by walking distance, from 308 ± 207 m at M0 to 497 ± 253 m at M6 (P < 0.05). The number of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 1 angina increased by tenfold during the study, whereas those with class 3 angina decreased by threefold.

Conclusion

The TMZ–bisoprolol combination is a rapidly effective treatment for reducing the frequency of angina attacks and the use of short-acting nitrates in patients with stable angina in a real-world clinical setting. The benefits of this combination therapy was observed as early as 2 weeks after treatment initiation and the treatment was well tolerated.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN identifier: ISRCTN65209863

An attempt at administering a transdermal formulation of bisoprolol in patients with acute cardiac symptoms

BACKGROUND

Bisono® is the world's first transdermal formulation of a bisoprolol, which is approved for the treatment of hypertension in Japan. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of this formulation in patients who were admitted to our hospital with cardiac symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome or an acute exacerbation of heart failure.

METHODS

This study involved a retrospective survey of medical records from September 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018 obtained from the Cardiovascular Center of Kyoto Katsura Hospital. The clinical data of patients on admission who had received a transdermal formula of bisoprolol (Bisono® tape) were retrieved; their blood pressure and heart rate data were analyzed in relation to the doses of Bisono® tape administered.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients received the Bisono® tape. Their final diagnoses included acute myocardial infarction, an exacerbation of heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. While there was no significant correlation observed between the administered doses of the drug and reduction in blood pressure achieved within 24 h after admission, there was a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the doses of Bisono®tnd reduction in the heart rate within 24 h after admission (ΔHR_{0-24 h}). Only one patient who received 8 mg of Bisono® exhibited temporal bradycardia (heart rate < 50 bpm).

CONCLUSION

The transdermal formulation of bisoprolol may be useful for the early introduction of β-blockers in patients admitted with cardiac symptoms associated with myocardial ischemia or heart failure. However, caution should be exercised because of the possible risk of hypotension.

Bisoprolol responses (PK/PD) in hypertensive patients: A cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 targeted polymorphism study

BACKGROUND

Bisoprolol is an effective β1-adrenergic blocker, an inter-individual genetic variability was recorded in its response. This study aimed at investigating the association of CYP2D6*2A (rs1080985) and CYP2D6*10 (rs1065852) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with Bisoprolol response in cardiac patients attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the study, 107 patients were enrolled. Five mL of venous blood was collected from each patient and genotyping for CYP2D6*2A and CYP2D6*10 using Vivid® CYP2D6 Green Screening Kit (Life Technologies, USA). Response to Bisoprolol was evaluated through assessment of diastolic and systolic blood pressure and by measuring Bisoprolol plasma level using triple quad mass spectrometer (TQ-MS).

RESULTS

All patients were found to carry homozygous wild type CYP2D6*10 (GG) and none were carrying heterozygous (GA) or mutant homozygous (AA) genotype. CYP2D6*2A allele was detected in the homozygous wild type (GG) in 70 out of 107 patients, the heterozygous (GC) in 19 patients, and the homozygous mutant (CC) in 18 patients with minor allele frequency (MAF) of 25.7%. The plasma concentrations of Bisoprolol in CC carriers were significantly lower than those in GG & CC carriers by 25%, and 51%; respectively. Higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also observed in CC carriers than GG and CC carriers.

CONCLUSION

There is a possible association of CYP2D6*2A genotype with plasma concentration of bisoprolol. This could provide a helpful tool to choose the optimum dose for bisoprolol, depending on the patient's genotyping, in order to increase effectiveness and ameliorate its toxicity.

Bisoprolol: A comprehensive profile

The present study describes a comprehensive profile of Bisoprolol including detailed nomenclature; formulae, elemental analysis, appearance, its uses, applications, and methods for the preparation are outlined. The profile contains physicochemical properties of Bisoprolol including pKa value, solubility, X-ray powder diffraction, and methods of analysis (including compendial, electrochemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and capillary electrophoresis). The study also covers thermal analysis such as differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry of Bisoprolol. Which gives a brief idea of melting point, glass transition as well as differentiation between anhydrous and hydrated forms. In addition to these functional groups and structural confirmation of bisoprolol also presented with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. The mass fragmentation pattern of bisoprolol fumarate was reported using the electrospray ionization technique. Some recently reported methods for pharmacokinetic analysis of bisoprolol using high-performance liquid chromatography as well as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were also included in the study.

Bisoprolol and linagliptin ameliorated electrical and mechanical isometric myocardial contractions in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in rats

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent that causes cardiomyopathy as a side effect. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of linagliptin and bisoprolol on the management of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in rats.

METHODS

Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 8). Group I received saline for 4 weeks; group II received 1 mg/kg bisoprolol for 8 weeks; group III received 3 mg/kg linagliptin for 8 weeks; group IV received 1.25 mg/kg doxorubicin for 4 weeks for the induction of cardiomyopathy; group V received 1.25 mg/kg doxorubicin for 4 weeks plus 1 mg/kg bisoprolol for 8 weeks; and group VI received 1.25 mg/kg doxorubicin for 4 weeks plus 3 mg/kg linagliptin for 8 weeks. Electrocardiography and isometric mechanography were conducted to measure ventricular contractile responses. Myocardial tissue and serum samples were analyzed for oxidative and cardiotoxic markers by ELISA.

RESULTS

Electrocardiography revealed that QRS, QT and Tp intervals were longer in group IV than group I. Doxorubicin caused a significant decrease in ventricular contraction, which was significantly prevented by bisoprolol. Doxorubicin resulted in myocardial fiber disorganization and disruption, but bisoprolol or linagliptin improved this myocardial damage. Glutathione peroxidase was significantly decreased in groups IV and V. Bisoprolol or linagliptin treatment attenuated the significant doxorubicin-mediated increase in malondialdehyde. Doxorubicin and linagliptin provided significant elevations in CK-MB activity and troponin-I levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Doxorubicin resulted in pronounced oxidative stress. The beneficial effects of bisoprolol and linagliptin on myocardial functional, histopathological and biochemical changes could be related to the attenuation of oxidative load.

The mortality benefit of carvedilol versus bisoprolol in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It is unknown whether different β-blockers (BBs) have variable effects on long-term survival of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study compares the effects of two BBs, carvedilol and bisoprolol, on survival in patients with HFrEF.

METHODS

The Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry is a prospective multicenter cohort that includes 5,625 patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF). We selected 3,016 patients with HFrEF and divided this study population into two groups: BB at discharge (n = 1,707) or no BB at discharge (n = 1,309). Among patients with BB at discharge, subgroups were formed based on carvedilol prescription (n = 831), or bisoprolol prescription (n = 553). Propensity score matching analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Among patients who were prescribed a BB at discharge, 60.5% received carvedilol and 32.7% received bisoprolol. There was a significant reduction in allcause mortality in those patients with HFrEF prescribed a BB at discharge compared to those who were not (BB vs. no BB, 26.1% vs. 40.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.67; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the rate of all-cause mortality between those receiving different types of BB (carvedilol vs. bisoprolol, 27.5% vs. 23.5%; HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.47; p = 0.07). Similar results were observed after propensity score matching analysis (508 pairs, 26.2% vs. 23.8%; HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.40; p = 0.47).

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of AHF with reduced EF after hospitalization, mortality benefits of carvedilol and bisoprolol were comparable.

Effects of carvedilol vs bisoprolol on inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (CHF). Our previous clinical trial, the Bisoprolol Improvement Group for Chronic Heart Failure Treatment Study in Dokkyo Medical University (BRIGHT-D), reported that bisoprolol is superior to carvedilol for myocardial protection in patients with CHF, as demonstrated by high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hsTnT) reduction. The present study was a subanalysis of the BRIGHT-D study that focused on the effects of bisoprolol vs carvedilol on inflammation and oxidative stress in CHF patients.

METHODS

Of the 87 patients enrolled in the BRIGHT-D trial, the present study included 48 patients (26 in the bisoprolol group and 22 in the carvedilol group) who had baseline and follow-up measurements of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) as an index of oxidative stress.

RESULTS

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), an inflammatory marker, decreased in both groups; however, the decrease in the bisoprolol group [3.35 ± 0.78 to 2.69 ± 0.44 log (ng/ml), p = 0.001] was more significant than that in the carvedilol group [3.38 ± 0.59 to 2.85 ± 0.76 log (ng/ml), p = 0.047]. The d-ROMs also decreased in both groups; however, the decrease in the bisoprolol group (401 ± 106 to 344 ± 82 U.CARR, p = 0.015) was less significant than that in the carvedilol group (382 ± 84 to 312 ± 76 U.CARR, p = 0.006]. In all 48 patients, the change in hsTnT was correlated with that in hsCRP (R = 0.467, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Bisoprolol may be better than carvedilol for reducing inflammation, but carvedilol may be better than bisoprolol for reducing oxidative stress. Proper use of bisoprolol or carvedilol based on individual pathophysiology could be promising in patients with CHF.

Assessment of a guideline-based heart substructures delineation in left-sided breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy : Quality assessment within a randomized phase III trial testing a cardioprotective treatment strategy (SAFE-2014)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In our institute, breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant treatment are included in a protocol aimed to reduce cardiovascular morbidity (SAFE-2014, NCT2236806), assessing preclinical heart damage with heart speckle-tracking ultrasound. To develop a dose constraint related to subclinical heart damage, a reliable delineation of heart substructures based on a pre-existing guideline was made.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Heart substructures of 16 left-sided breast cancer patients included in the SAFE protocol were delineated by five operators. For each substructure, a multi-contour delineation based on a majority vote algorithm (MCD) was created. A consensus-based delineation (CBD) was developed by an independent team of two blinded operators. Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) between volumes delineated by different operators and the MCD were collected and reported, as well as DSC between CBD and MCD.

RESULTS

Mean DSCs between heart chambers delineated by each operator and the corresponding MCDs ranged between 0.78 and 0.96. Mean DSC between substructures delineated by all single operators and the corresponding MCD ranged between 0.84 and 0.94. Mean DSC between CBD and the corresponding MCD ranged from 0.89 to 0.97.

CONCLUSION

Results showed low inter-observer variability of heart substructure delineation. This constitutes an external validation of the contouring atlas used, allowing a reliable dosimetric assessment of these volumes within the SAFE-2014 trial.

Long-term effectiveness of bisoprolol in patients with angina: A real-world evidence study

A cohort analysis using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) was performed to compare the effects of bisoprolol, other β-blockers, and drugs other than β-blockers on the long-term risk of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with angina. Adult patients first diagnosed with angina from 2000 to 2014, with ≥365 days of registration to first angina diagnosis and initiating monotherapies of bisoprolol, other β-blockers, or drugs other than β-blockers within 6 months of angina diagnosis were included. Incidence rates for each treatment cohort were compared using adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) obtained from Cox regression analyses. Overall, 987 patients were treated with bisoprolol, 1348 with other β-blockers and 5272 with drugs other than β-blockers. Over the total follow-up (≤14 years), the HR of bisoprolol versus other β-blockers and drugs other than β-blockers for mortality was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.34-0.61) and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.38-0.66), respectively. The HR of bisoprolol versus other β-blockers for angina was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.50-0.68) and versus drugs other than β-blockers was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68-0.88), respectively. For myocardial infarction, the HR of bisoprolol versus drugs other than β-blockers up to 14 years was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.23-0.52) and versus other β-blockers up to 5 years was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.27-0.75). At 5 years, the HR of bisoprolol versus other β-blockers, and drugs other than β-blockers, for arrhythmia was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.35-1.0) and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.40-0.93), respectively. In conclusion, long-term significant reduction in the risk of mortality and various cardiovascular events with bisoprolol versus other β-blockers, and drugs other than β-blockers, confirm treatment guidelines recommendation that bisoprolol is particularly well suited as the first-line treatment of angina in primary care.

Development, validation and application of a novel HPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of atorvastatin, bisoprolol and clopidogrel in a large cardiovascular patient cohort

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide. Importantly, there is interindividual variation in response to cardiovascular medications, leading to variable efficacy and adverse events. Therefore a rapid, selective, sensitive and reproducible multi-analyte HPLC-MS/MS assay for the quantification in human plasma of atorvastatin, its major metabolites 2-hydroxyatorvastatin, atorvastatin lactone and 2-hydroxyatorvastatin lactone, plus bisoprolol and clopidogrel-carboxylic acid has been developed, fully validated, and applied to a large patient study. Fifty microliter plasma samples were extracted with a simple protein precipitation procedure involving acetonitrile with acetic acid (0.1%, v/v). Chromatographic separation was via a 2.7 μm Halo C18 (50 × 2.1 mm ID, 90 Å) column and gradient elution at a flow rate of 500 μL/min consisting of a mobile phase of water (A) and acetonitrile (B), each containing 0.1% formic acid (v/v), over a 6.0 min run time. The six analytes and their corresponding six deuterated internal standards underwent positive ion electrospray ionisation and were detected with multiple reaction monitoring. The developed method was fully validated with acceptable selectivity, carryover, dilution integrity, and within-run and between-run accuracy and precision. Mean extraction recovery for the analytes was 92.7-108.5%, and internal standard-normalised matrix effects had acceptable precision (coefficients of variation 2.2-12.3%). Moreover, all analytes were stable under the tested conditions. Atorvastatin lactone to acid interconversion was assessed and recommendations for its minimisation are made. The validated assay was successfully applied to analyse 1279 samples from 1024 patients recruited to a cardiovascular secondary prevention prospective study.

Efficacy of Propranolol, Bisoprolol, and Pyridostigmine for Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia which presents with complex symptoms including orthostatic intolerance. Several medications are prescribed for POTS; however, the efficacy of sustained medical treatment has not been well-investigated. Here, we conducted a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomized, clinical trial of a 3-month medical treatment regimen in POTS patients. Patients were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups (Group 1: propranolol; Group 2: bisoprolol; Group 3: propranolol + pyridostigmine; Group 4: bisoprolol + pyridostigmine). The orthostatic intolerance questionnaire (OIQ), Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), and short-form health survey (SF-36) were conducted at baseline, 1 and 3 months after treatment. Seventy-seven patients who completed the 3-month follow-up were analyzed. In total, every clinical score improved significantly after medical treatment. The OIQ score was significantly lower than that at baseline (18.5 ± 6.7) after 1 month (12.5 ± 4.5, P < 0.01), which decreased further after 3 months (7.8 ± 5.7, P < 0.01). The OIQ score improvements were consistent across every treatment group. In the subgroup analysis of 59 patients who did not receive antidepressants, the BDI-II score significantly decreased after treatment, regardless of the regimen. Physical components of the SF-36 improved after 3 months in every group, while mental components improved only in Group 3. The amount of changes in each score was similar among groups throughout the comparisons. Sustained medical treatment is beneficial to POTS patients, not only for orthostatic intolerance symptoms but also for depression and diminished quality of life, even without prescriptions for antidepressants. The efficacy of each regimen in POTS patients was comparable.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02171988.

Effects of Bisoprolol Are Comparable with Carvedilol in Secondary Prevention of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Although the benefits of carvedilol have been demonstrated in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), very few studies have evaluated the efficacy of bisoprolol in the secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in patients treated with PCI. We hypothesized that the effect of bisoprolol would not be different from carvedilol in post-MI patients. A total of 13,813 patients who underwent PCI were treated either with carvedilol or bisoprolol at the time of discharge. They were enrolled from the Korean Acute MI Registry (KAMIR). After 1:2 propensity score matching, 1,806 patients were enrolled in the bisoprolol group and 3,612 patients in the carvedilol group. The primary end point was the composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), which was defined as cardiac death, nonfatal MI, target vessel revascularization, and coronary artery bypass surgery. The secondary end point was defined as all-cause mortality, cardiac death, nonfatal MI, any revascularization, or target vessel revascularization. After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics by propensity score matching, the MACE-free survival rate was not different between the groups (HR=0.815, 95% CI:0.614-1.081, p=0.156). In the subgroup analysis, the cumulative incidence of MACEs was lower in the bisoprolol group in patients having a Killip class of III or IV than in the carvedilol group (HR=0.512, 95% CI: 0.263-0.998, p=0.049). The incidence of secondary end points was similar between the two beta-blocker groups. In conclusion, the benefits of bisoprolol were comparable with those of carvedilol in the secondary prevention of acute MI.

β-Blocker Dialyzability in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

There is a paucity of data available to describe drug dialyzability. Of the available information, most was obtained before implementation of modern hemodialysis membranes. Our study characterized dialyzability of the most commonly prescribed β-blockers in patients undergoing high-flux hemodialysis.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Patients on hemodialysis (n=8) were recruited to an open label, pharmacokinetic, four-way crossover trial. Single doses of atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol were administered on separate days in random order to each patient. Plasma and dialysate drug concentrations were measured, and dialyzability was determined by the recovery clearance and arterial venous difference methods.

RESULTS

Using the recovery clearance method, the dialytic clearance values for atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol were 72, 87, 44, and 0.2 ml/min, respectively (P<0.001). Applying the arterial venous difference method, the dialytic clearance values of atenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol were 167, 114, 96, and 24 ml/min, respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Atenolol and metoprolol are extensively cleared by hemodialysis compared with the negligible dialytic clearance of carvedilol. Contrary to estimates of dialyzability on the basis of previous literature, our data indicate that bisoprolol is also dialyzable. This finding highlights the importance of conducting dialyzability studies to definitively characterize drug dialytic clearance.

[Pharmacokinetic risk factors of beta-blockers overdose in the elderly: Case report and pharmacology approach]

Beta-blockers are widely prescribed in elderly patients and may induce severe adverse drug reactions. We report a case of bisoprolol-induced bradycardia in an elderly patient with impaired renal function and use of cytochrome P450 inhibitors. A literature review has been performed in order to analyze pharmacokinetic risk factors of beta-blockers overdosing in geriatrics. Various mechanisms can result in decreased elimination of beta-blockers. These mechanisms vary according to the beta-blocker agent and may be combined in some individuals, especially elderly patients. This can lead to unexpected overexposure. Knowledge about drug interactions and pharmacokinetic elimination pathways is important for preventing overexposure and adverse drug reactions when using beta-blockers.

Divergent effects of adrenaline in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes obtained from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited cardiac disease that affects the heart muscle with diverse clinical outcomes. HCM can cause sudden cardiac death (SCD) during or immediately after mild to rigorous physical activity in young patients. However, the mechanism causing SCD as a result of exercise remains unknown, but exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias are thought to be responsible for this fatal consequence. To understand the disease mechanism behind HCM in a better way, we generated patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from HCM patients carrying either the MYBPC3-Gln1061X or TPM1-Asp175Asn mutation. We extensively investigated the effects of low to high concentrations of adrenaline on action potential characteristics, and the occurrence of arrhythmias in the presence of various concentrations of adrenaline and in wash-out condition. We classified and quantified different types of arrhythmias observed in hiPSC-CMs, and found that the occurrence of arrhythmias was dependent on concentrations of adrenaline and positions of mutations in genes causing HCM. In addition, we observed ventricular tachycardia types of arrhythmias in hiPSC-CMs carrying the TPM1-Asp175Asn mutation. We additionally examined the antiarrhythmic potency of bisoprolol in HCM-specific hiPSC-CMs. However, bisoprolol could not reduce the occurrence of arrhythmias during administration or during the wash-out condition of adrenaline in HCM-specific hiPSC-CMs. Our study demonstrates hiPSC-CMs as a promising tool for studying HCM. The experimental design used in this study could be suitable and beneficial for studying other components and drugs related to cardiac disease in general.

Summary: Different concentrations of adrenaline have divergent effects during and immediately after administration in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) obtained from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. Bisoprolol could not reduce the arrhythmias in HCM-specific hiPSC-CMs.

Resistant Hypertension On Treatment (ResHypOT): sequential nephron blockade compared to dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plus bisoprolol in the treatment of resistant arterial hypertension - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Resistant hypertension is characterized when the blood pressure (BP) remains above the recommended goal after taking three antihypertensive drugs with synergistic actions at their maximum recommended tolerated doses, preferably including a diuretic. Identifying the contribution of intravascular volume and serum renin in maintaining BP levels could help tailor more effective hypertension treatment, whether acting on the control of intravascular volume or sodium balance, or acting on the effects of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) on the kidney.

Methods/design

This is a randomized, open-label, clinical trial is designed to compare sequential nephron blockade and its contribution to the intravascular volume component with dual blockade of the RAAS plus bisoprolol and the importance of serum renin in maintaining BP levels. The trial has two arms: sequential nephron blockade versus dual blockade of the RAAS (with an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor plus a beta-blocker) both added-on to a thiazide diuretic, a calcium-channel blocker and an angiotensin receptor-1 blocker (ARB). Sequential nephron blockade consists in a progressive increase in sodium depletion using a thiazide diuretic, an aldosterone-receptor blocker, furosemide and, finally, amiloride.

On the other hand, the dual blockade of the RAAS consists of the progressive addition of an ACE inhibitor until the maximum dose and then the administration of a beta-blocker until the maximum dose. The primary outcomes will be reductions in the systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP and pulse pressure (PP) after 20 weeks of treatment. The secondary outcomes will evaluate treatment safety and tolerability, biochemical changes, evaluation of renal function and recognition of hypotension (ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM)). The sample size was calculated assuming an alpha error of 5% to reject the null hypothesis with a statistical power of 80% giving a total of 40 individuals per group.

Discussion

In recent years, the cost of resistant hypertension (RH) treatment has increased. Thus, identifying the contribution of intravascular volume and serum renin in maintaining BP levels could help tailor more effective hypertension treatment, whether by acting on the control of intravascular volume or sodium balance, or by acting on the effects of the RAAS on the kidney.

Trial registration

Sequential Nephron Blockade vs. Dual Blockade Renin-angiotensin System + Bisoprolol in Resistant Arterial Hypertension (ResHypOT). ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02832973. Registered on 14 July 2016. First received: 12 June 2016. Last updated: 18 July 2016.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2343-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Heart rate control is associated with reduced cardiovascular events in Asian patients with coronary artery disease treated with bisoprolol (BISO-CAD): results from a multi-national, real-world experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between decrease in resting heart rate (RHR) and occurrence of composite cardiac clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after bisoprolol treatment.

METHODS

This phase IV, multi-national, single-arm, open-label, non-randomized, observational trial was conducted between October 2011 and July 2015 across 42 hospitals from China, South Korea and Vietnam.

RESULTS

Analysis of 866 patients (mean age 63.85 ± 10.35; mean RHR at baseline 75.71 ± 6.87 bpm in intent-to-treat [ITT]; 75.56 ± 6.73 in efficacy analysis [EA] sets) was performed. Patients with lower mean RHR had fewer composite cardiac events and patients with RHR of 69-74 bpm reported significantly higher outcomes than patients with RHR <65 bpm (p = .0449). A significant association with occurrence of the composite cardiac outcome and hospital admission for unstable angina or revascularization was reported in the EA set (regression estimate: 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.07, p = .0412) and not in the ITT set for bisoprolol treated CAD patients. Composite cardiac outcomes significantly increased in patients with mean RHR ≥70 bpm compared to patients with mean RHR <70 bpm (p = .0328). Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 206 (23.8%) patients, of whom 102 (11.8%) patients had serious adverse event (SAEs). Among the patients with SAEs, 11 (1.3%) patients died. Treatment related adverse events were only 12 (1.4%). No treatment related SAE happened.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed bisoprolol to be efficacious, in terms of lowering RHR and causing a significant decrease in the occurrence of the composite cardiac outcome, as well as safe in Asian patients with CAD.

Vigorous exercise mobilizes CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells to peripheral blood via the β2-adrenergic receptor

Acute dynamic exercise mobilizes CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to the bloodstream, potentially serving as an economical adjuvant to boost the collection of HSCs from stem cell transplant donors. The mechanisms responsible for HSC mobilization with exercise are unknown but are likely due to hemodynamic perturbations, endogenous granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and/or β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) signaling. We characterized the temporal response of HSC mobilization and plasma G-CSF following exercise, and determined the impact of in vivo β-AR blockade on the exercise-induced mobilization of HSCs. Healthy runners (n = 15) completed, in balanced order, two single bouts of steady state treadmill running exercise at moderate (lasting 90-min) or vigorous (lasting 30-min) intensity. A separate cohort of healthy cyclists (n = 12) completed three 30-min cycling ergometer trials at vigorous intensity after ingesting: (i) 10 mg bisoprolol (β1-AR antagonist); (ii) 80 mg nadolol (β1 + β2-AR antagonist); or (iii) placebo, in balanced order with a double-blind design. Blood samples collected before, during (runners only), immediately after, and at several points during exercise recovery were used to determine circulating G-CSF levels (runners only) and enumerate CD34+ HSCs by flow cytometry (runners and cyclists). Steady state vigorous but not moderate intensity exercise mobilized HSCs, increasing the total blood CD34+ count by ∼4.15 ± 1.62 Δcells/µl (+202 ± 92%) compared to resting conditions. Plasma G-CSF increased in response to moderate but not vigorous exercise. Relative to placebo, nadolol and bisoprolol lowered exercising heart rate and blood pressure to comparable levels. The number of CD34+ HSCs increased with exercise after the placebo and bisoprolol trials, but not the nadolol trial, suggesting β2-AR signaling mediated the mobilization of CD34+ cells [Placebo: 2.10 ± 1.16 (207 ± 69.2%), Bisoprolol 1.66 ± 0.79 (+163 ± 29%), Nadolol: 0.68 ± 0.54 (+143 ± 36%) Δcells/µL]. We conclude that the mobilization of CD34+ HSCs with exercise is not dependent on circulating G-CSF and is likely due to the combined actions of β2-AR signaling and hemodynamic shear stress.

Pharmacological intervention in hypertension using beta-blockers: Real-world evidence for long-term effectiveness

The study objective was to compare the long-term incidence and risk of mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension initiating bisoprolol, other β-blockers or other antihypertensive therapies. Cohort analysis using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Adult patients with first diagnosis of hypertension recorded between 2000 and 2014, with ≥365 days of registration to first event and initiating monotherapies of bisoprolol, other β-blockers or drugs other than β-blockers within 6 months of diagnosis were included. Incidence rates (IR) for each treatment cohort were compared using adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) obtained from Cox regression analyses. Of 100,066 patients included, 539 were prescribed bisoprolol, 3701 other β-blockers, and 95,826 drugs other than β-blockers. Patients receiving bisoprolol had significantly increased survival from 2 up to <15 years (HR for <15 years 0.34; 95% CI 0.18-0.67) versus other β-blockers, and from 5 to <15 years (HR for <15 years 0.52; 95% CI 0.27-1.00) versus drugs other than β-blockers. Over time, the risk of arrhythmia was higher in the bisoprolol cohort versus other β-blockers, and risks of arrhythmia and angina were higher versus drugs other than β-blockers. No differences in the risk of embolism, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) were found between cohorts. Over time, mortality and cardiovascular outcome IRs decreased in each cohort. In conclusion, bisoprolol showed sustained benefit on survival, evident from 2 years after treatment initiation versus other β-blockers, and from 5 years versus drugs other than β-blockers, providing long-term evidence supporting the use of bisoprolol in patients with hypertension in primary care.

Functional characteristics of a renal H+/lipophilic cation antiport system in porcine LLC-PK1 cells and rats

We have recently found an H⁺/quinidine (a lipophilic cation, QND) antiport system in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the H⁺/lipophilic cation antiport system is expressed in porcine LLC-PK₁ cells. That is, we investigated uptake and/or efflux of QND and another cation, bisoprolol, in LLC-PK₁ cells. In addition, we studied the renal clearance of bisoprolol in rats. Uptake of QND into LLC-PK₁ cells was decreased by acidification of the extracellular pH or alkalization of the intracellular pH. Cellular uptake of QND from the apical side was much greater than from the basolateral side. In addition, apical efflux of QND from LLC-PK₁ cells was increased by acidification of the extracellular pH. Furthermore, lipophilic cationic drugs significantly reduced uptake of bisoprolol in LLC-PK₁ cells. Renal clearance of bisoprolol in rats was approximately 7-fold higher than that of creatinine, and was markedly decreased by alkalization of the urine pH. The present study suggests that the H⁺/lipophilic cation antiport system is expressed in the apical membrane of LLC-PK₁ cells. Moreover, the H⁺/lipophilic cation antiport system may be responsible for renal tubular secretion of bisoprolol in rats.

Heart rate and outcome in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Differences between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm-A CIBIS II analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart rate has been associated with prognosis in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) and sinus rhythm; whether this also holds true in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown.

HYPOTHESIS

To evaluate cardiac rhythm and baseline heart rate and the influence of outcome in patients with HFREF enrolled in the Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study II.

METHODS

In total, 2539 patients were stratified according to their baseline heart rhythm (AF or sinus rhythm) and into quartiles of heart rate (≤70 bpm, 71-78 bpm, 79-90 bpm, and >90 bpm). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Mean follow-up was 1.3 years.

RESULTS

Mean age was 61 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 28%, and 80% were male. A total of 521 (21%) patients had AF at baseline. The risk associated with all-cause mortality for each 5 bpm increase in heart rate in patients with sinus rhythm (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11, P = 0.012) was significantly different from those with AF (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.94-1.07, P = 0.90, P for interaction = 0.041). The risk associated with higher heart rate in sinus rhythm was primarily attributable to excess risk in the highest quartile (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.18-2.30, P = 0.003). Allocation to bisoprolol did not modify the interaction between heart rate, rhythm and outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In HFREF patients with AF, a higher heart rate is not associated with increased event rates in contrast to HFREF patients with sinus rhythm.

Effects of bisoprolol in combination with trimetazidine on the treatment of heart failure and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of bisoprolol combined with trimetazidine on the treatment of heart failure patients having concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); in comparison with control group treated with standard therapy only.

Methods:

A total of 120 heart failure patients having concomitant COPD were selected and randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group according to different treatment methods (n=60). The control group was given continuous low flow oxygen inhalation and inotropic agents, and their cardiac stress was also reduced. The treatment group was treated with bisoprolol fumarate and trimetazidine in addition to treatment for COPD. For all patients, blood gas analysis and parameters reflecting cardiac function were measured respectively before and after treatment. The respiratory symptoms (cough, sputum, polypnea, gasp, dyspnea), limitation of motion (daily life, household duties, entertainment, sports), disease impacts (social contact, emotion, anxiety) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total scores were observed using SGRQ.

Results:

The oxygen partial pressure (PaO₂) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) of the treatment group after treatment were significantly different from those before treatment. After treatment, peak E, E/A and IVEF were increased by 41%, 44% and 16% respectively, but peak A, LVPWT/mm and IVST/mm were significantly reduced. The differences in the respiratory symptoms, limitation of motion, disease impacts and SGRQ total scores were statistically significant compared with those before treatment (P<0.05) and those of the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Combining bisoprolol with trimetazidine in the treatment of heart failure complicating COPD can effectively improve blood gas indices, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and the quality of life, thereby alleviating clinical symptoms.