Single dose ivabradine versus intravenous metoprolol for heart rate reduction before coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients receiving long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy

BackgroundIn patients with contraindication for beta-blockers who are also under long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy for any reason, ivabradine may be used as an alternative treatment to achieve the target heart rate.PurposeTo assess whether single dose oral ivabradine in patients referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is safe and can significantly decrease heart rate compared to intravenous (i.v.) metoprolol in patients receiving long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy.Material and MethodsOne-hundred and twenty patients who were under calcium channel-blocker therapy referred for CCTA were randomized to premedication with single dose (15 mg) ivabradine (n = 63) or i.v. metoprolol (5–10 mg) (n = 62). Hearth rate (HR) was assessed at admission (HR1), prescan (HR2), and during CCTA scan (HR3) for all patients. Blood pressure (BP) was measured before medication (BP1) and immediately before CCTA scan (BP2).ResultsAlthough the HR averages of two groups were not significantly differ...