The Impact of Glucocorticoid Therapy on Guideline-Directed Medical Treatment Titration in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure with Low Blood Pressure: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Positive inotropic and renal protective actions of glucocorticoids have been observed clinically. Therefore, glucocorticoids may be used in patients with heart failure and low blood pressure (HF-LBP). METHODS: The medical records of 144 consecutive patients with HF-LBP who received glucocorticoids as an adjunctive treatment to facilitate the up-titration of β-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor were reviewed. RESULTS: After four weeks of treatment, the metoprolol and captopril (or equivalent) dosages were progressively and consistently increased from 25 (interquartile range [IQR] = 12.5–75 mg/day) to 100 mg/day (IQR = 50–178.8 mg/day) and from 0 (IQR = 0–25 mg/day) to 12.5 mg/day (IQR = 0–50 mg/day), respectively. There was a remarkable beneficial hemodynamic response to the glucocorticoid treatment signified by an increase in blood pressure and decrease in heart rate. The average heart rate decreased by 6 beat per minute (bpm) (0.5–16 bpm), and the mean arterial blood pressure increased from 74.06 ± 7.81 to 78.85 ± 7.91 mmHg. We also observed an improvement in renal function and an increased diuretic response following glucocorticoid treatment. As a result, the left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 28.92 ± 8.06% to 33.86 ± 8.76%, and the diuretic response increased from 776.7 mL/40 mg furosemide (IQR = 133.8–2000 mL) to 4000 mL/40 mg furosemide on day 28 (IQR = 2200–5925 mL). CONCLUSION: The use of glucocorticoid treatment to maintain hemodynamic and renal functional targets when titrating guideline-directed medical treatment in patients with HF-LBP may be safe, effective, and feasible.