Effects of a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker in myocardial infarction treated for one year from onset.

one yearfrom onset of their acute myocardial infarction. Patients were assessed on five occasions after their discharge from hospital. The mortality and hospital readmission rates were not significantly different in the two groups. This also applied to the incidence of cardiac failure, exertional dyspnoea, andfrequency of ventricular ectopic beats. The incidence of angina pectoris and the consumption of trinitrin were also not significantly different. The patients taking alprenolol had a significantly better rehabilitation rate judged by return to work. No injurious effect of alprenolol on the myocardium was observed using heart volume measurements as a criterion. There was a significant fall in resting systolic blood pressure between three months and one year in the patients on alprenolol and the systolic blood pressure during exercise on alprenolol was also significantly lower. Most patients felt better when exercised while taking alprenolol but there was