Comparative Hemodynamic, Left Ventricular Functional, and Antiadrenergic Effects of Chronic Treatment With Metoprolol Versus Carvedilol in the Failing Heart

Abstract

The third-generation beta-blocking agent carvedilol has substantially different effects on left ventricular function, hemodynamics, adrenergic activity, and beta-receptor expression than dose the second-generation compound metoprolol. Some or all of these differences may explain the apparent differences in clinical results between the two compounds.