[The density of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoreceptors and blood plasma catecholamines in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].

27 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) complicated by heart failure (HF) of stages I-IIB were studied. The density of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors decreased significantly as HF progressed. The level of circulating catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine) was significantly higher in patients were severe HF, which probably caused more evident decrease in lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors density in these patients. This point of view was confirmed by the data of correlation-regression analysis between the general beta 2-adrenoceptors density and hemodynamics data. The identified changes in the number of adrenoceptors reflect the process of cellular receptors desensitization. They should be considered as a possible mechanism of HF development on a molecular level that cause development of refractoriness to routine therapy.