Ibopamine in the treatment of mild chronic heart failure in elderly patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

This double-blind, randomized, multicenter clinical study assessed the efficacy and safety of ibopamine 100 mg t.i.d. as monotherapy vs. placebo in 52 patients with mild chronic heart failure aged over 60 years during a 12-week treatment period. Ibopamine produced a statistically significant increase in exercise tolerance and reduction in fatigue during effort compared to placebo. A trend towards decreased requirement of concomitant diuretic therapy was noted in the ibopamine-treated group. Ibopamine was well tolerated throughout the study. This study indicated that ibopamine is an effective and safe agent as monotherapy in the treatment of mild chronic heart failure in elderly patients.