Changes in exercise tolerance and resting haemodynamics during long-term treatment of heart failure with xamoterol.

The long-term efficacy of xamoterol in improving effort capacity and haemodynamics was investigated in a study lasting 1 year in heart failure patients. Following a 3 month, double-blind period of treatment with xamoterol, patients continued therapy for a further 9 months. Exercise duration rose by 27% at 3 months and this improvement was maintained at 12 months. Similarly, the statistically significant increase in cardiac index and reduction in pulmonary wedge pressure and exercise heart rate persisted for 12 months.