title: Use of nitroglycerin ointment in congestive heart failure. Results of acute and chronic therapy.
abstract: 7 consecutive patients with congestive heart failure refractory to standard therapy were treated with nitroglycerin ointment (GTNO). The pulmonary wedge pressure decreased from a control value of 30+/-1 to 15+/-1 mm Hg (mean +/-SEM), and the arteriovenous oxygen difference narrowed from 6.8+/-0.5 to 5.5+/-0.3 ml%, after GTNO therapy. The heart rate decreased in 5 patients and the systolic blood pressure was either unchanged or decreased slightly. A reduction in the echocardiographic end diastolic dimension was noted in all patients. The transmyocardial gradient (systemic artery diastolic pressure - pulmonary artery wedge pressure) increased in all except 1 subject. The double product decreased in 5 of the 7 patients. Hemodynamic improvement was maintained for 4.5-7 h. All patients were symptomatically improved on chronic GTNO treatment. Our results indicate that GTNO is a useful agent in the management of heart failure which is unresponsive to standard therapy.
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009824:Ointments; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D005996:Nitroglycerin