To evaluate the clinical effects of beta - blockade(metoprolol)in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF)

38 children with CHF were studied by two - dimensional echocardiography. high performence liquid chromo- tography and radio - receptor assayed. Plasmic norepinephrine(NE)

epinephrine(E)levels

lymphocyte be- ta - adrenergic receptor number(Bmax)were assessed in all patients and 12 normal subjects The results revealed that plasmic NE and E levels were increased significantly and Bmax was markedly decreased(compared with normal subjects

P<0.01)

After metoprolol therapy(n = 18)

cardiac function improved

cardiac thoracic rate(CTR)reduced while plasmic NE and E levels decreased and lymphocyte Bmax increased sig- nificantly[ compared with routine treatment group(n = 18)

P<0.05-0.001 ].It is concluded that metoprolol had a better benificial effect on CHF than routine treatment

and that inhibition of neurohormonal overactivation

up - regulation beta - adrenergic receptor density

reduced heart rate

and improved myocardiac diastole and systole function may be important mechanism of the effects.