Differential Effects of Carvedilol and Metoprolol on Renal Function in Patients With Heart Failure

Background: The aim of the present study was to verify the effects of β-blockers on renal function in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods and Results: A total of 40 patients with HF (New York Heart Association class, II-III) were enrolled, who had β-blocker therapy initiated with carvedilol (n=23) or metoprolol (n=17). The changes in renal and cardiac function were retrospectively analyzed over 16 weeks. The study population was divided into 2 groups according to the median baseline (65.9 ml/min) of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. eGFR significantly decreased in the higher eGFR group (P=0.04), but did not in the lower eGFR group. Left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased in both groups with lower eGFR (P=0.01) and higher eGFR (P