The Role of β-Blockers in Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Heart Failure

It was first reported by our group in 1975 that heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) could be improved by long term treatment with a β-blocker, starting at a low dose and continuing with a stepwise up-titration. Since then, many studies have been performed in patients with heart failure of various aetiologies and the beneficial effects of long term β-blockade have been confirmed.