Failure of plasma brain natriuretic peptide to identify left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the community

n=49 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% by radionuclide angiography. Mean age 52 years. All patients received background treatment with digoxin, diuretics, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Pentoxifylline 400 mg oral three times daily for 6 months

Matching placebo

Changes in Fas/APO-1 plasma concentrations and left ventricular ejection fraction at 6 monthssurrogate