Abstract des Autors

The effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade on the rectal temperature (Tre), sweat rate and water deficit (%) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) during a cardiac rehabilitation program was studied. Fourteen male cardiac patients were divided into two groups. Both groups were under medical treatment with group 1 taking beta1-selective beta blockers and group 2 non-selective beta blockers. Both groups underwent a maximum symptom limited stress ECG test to determine each patient's exercise heart rate (HRex). Seven days after the stress test they took part in a "normal" cardiac rehabilitation walking program. The total distance the patients walked or jogged was 4900 m. Both groups Tre increased significantly, yet the difference between the two groups was not significant. Both the sweat rate (1.21 l/h) and water deficit (0.56%) of group 1 were significantly lower than that of group 2 (1.36 l/h and 0.83% respectively). The conclusion of the study was that cardiac patients can reach disproportionately high Tre levels to the relatively low level of exercise during a rehabilitation program with no significant preference between beta1-selective and non-selective beta blockers. This could suggest that thermoregulation is impaired in cardiac patients. Verf.-Referat