Studies on heart failure in old age (Part II). Hemodynamic effects of propranolol and isoproterenol in elderly patients with heart failure.

Hemodynamic responses to propranolol and isoproterenol were examined in elderly patients with heart failure. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Patients with mild heart failure showed greater reduction than control group in heart rate and cardiac output after intravenous propranolol. These enhanced hemodynamic responses to propranolol would be the evidence of increased adrenergic activity even in mild heart failure. 2. Intravenous propranolol in the small dosage of 0.03 mg/kg showed only a negligible hemodynamic deterioration even in patients with heart failure. 3. Hemodynamic responses to beta-adrenergic stimulator, isoproterenol, were depressed in severe heart failure.