The influence of ivabradine on the leukogram and leukocyte indexes in patients with heart failure: the results of 2 years observation

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a consequence of various heart diseases. Approximately 1%-2% of the adult population in developed countries has HF, with the prevalence rising to ≥ 10% among persons of 70 years old or older. Ivabradine is the first member of a new group of drugs, the specific heart rate-lowering agents, to be introduced into clinical practice for treating HF. But its effect on the leukogram is sill unclear. The aim of the work was to study dynamics of the leukogram and leukocyte indexes during long-term treatment with Ivabradine in patients with the heart failure syndrome of ischemic genesis. We observed of 35 patients with stable angina II-III FC (CCS) with HF II-III FC (NYHA). All patients were randomized into two groups: 14 patients received the basic therapy medicines; the rest of 21 patients (the second group) additionally received Ivabradine. The leukogram was analyzed and leukocyte indexes were calculated during 2 years of observation. Additional prescription of Ivabradine has shown the insignificant decrease of the lymphocyte count in 2 years of treatment. It has been found that the lymphocyte count increases in patients of the basic group, and, as a consequence, the indexes of ICNL, ICN/ML decrease. Thus, Ivabradine has an additional immunotropic effect for lymphocyte count, the mechanism of which is unclear and requires further research.