[Reversibility of left ventricular dysfunction in elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing treatment with carvedilol. Report of a case].

Owing to recurrent episodes of congestive heart failure, an 88-year-old man with moderate aortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy was treated with carvedilol and closely followed up. At the beginning of the treatment the patient was in NYHA functional class IV and presented with severe global left ventricular hypokinesia with an ejection fraction of 15%. Carvedilol was started at a dose of 3.125 mg twice daily and progressively increased to 12.5 mg twice daily. Six months later the left ventricular volumes had become almost normal, wall motion abnormalities had completely reversed and the ejection fraction was markedly increased (62%). The patient was classified in NYHA functional class II. This case shows the recovery of left ventricular systolic function during the administration of carvedilol in an old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic congestive heart failure.