title: Non-invasive assessment of left ventricular performance in patients with coronary artery disease after chronic diltiazem therapy.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of diltiazem (240 mg/day) on the left ventricular function, we studied 13 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Comparison with placebo was made in a double-blind randomized crossover study. Both placebo and diltiazem were administered for 5 weeks. We assumed left ventricular systolic time intervals assessed by polycardiography as parameter of ventricular function. Diltiazem induced a significant decrease in pre-ejection period (p less than 0.01) as well as pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ratio (p less than 0.01). Thus, our results suggest that diltiazem improves the contractile state of ischemic myocardium in CAD patients.
authors.affiliation: 1st Medical Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinquegrana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristiano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spadafora
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004110:Diltiazem