Carvedilol in every day cardiology and interventional cardiology practice

The treatment of severe coronary stenoses with stent implantation is very effective nevertheless, the underlying problem of atherosclerosis remains unsolved with the implantation of a stent. Therefore, besides lifestyle changes, the adequate medication therapy is of pivotal importance. In the majority of patients scheduled for or acutely undergoing catheterisation, beta-blockers form the basis of medication therapy. Members of the group, however, show significant differences in terms of pharmacodynamics. The third-generation beta-blocker and vasodilator carvedilol possesses complex adrenerg-blocking and Ca-channel blocking effects as well. In the background of the favourable effects, a further positive property is its anti-free-radical effect which most beta-blockers do not have. Therefore, as has been proven by several studies, it provides considerable benefits in hypertension, after myocardial infarction, in diabetes and also in the treatment of patients with cardiac failure. These positive effects have been markedly observed in interventional cardiology practice, as the majority of patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation have hypertension, diabetes or hyperlipidaemia. Its anti-free-radical effect is especially beneficial together with its smooth muscle proliferation-inhibitor effect which may favourably affect in-stent restenosis (ISR) as well. To summarise, due to its vasculoprotective effect, carvedilol is an ideal drug of choice following stent implantation in routine everyday practice.