Is the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) of beta-blocking compounds relevant in acute myocardial infarction?

The relevance of the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) of beta-blocking compounds to the clinical therapeutics of acute myocardial infarction was evaluated in 20 patients with an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction by comparing the haemodynamic effects of equivalent beta-blocking doses of propranolol (non-cardioselective; no ISA) and pindolol (non-cardioselective; 50% ISA). Consecutive eligible male patients admitted to a Coronary Care Unit were randomised following a 1 h control period to two separate studies. In Study 1 the short-term dose-response effects of propranolol (1-8 mg) or pindolol (0.1-0.8 mg) were assessed. In Study 2 comparison of the effects of single i.v. propranolol (8 mg) and pindolol (0.8 mg) doses was undertaken over 6 h. Haemodynamic variables and thermodilution cardiac output were subsequently recorded to compare the effects of each drug on the circulation. The plasma concentrations of propranolol and pindolol were in the recognised therapeutic range. Both drugs were clinically well-tolerated, the changes induced in haemodynamic variables following each drug demonstrated effective beta-blockade. Within the limits of the experimental protocol, these data did not suggest definite haemodynamic advantage for ISA of pindolol in acute myocardial infarction. These findings are perhaps due to sympathetic activation in acute myocardial infarction attenuating the haemodynamic impact of ISA.