Acute haemodynamic effects of felodipine in congestive heart failure.
The haemodynamic effects of felodipine 0.1 mg/kg p.o., a new arteriolar dilator, were studied in 7 patients with severe congestive heart failure of NYHA Class IV (Group A) and in 3 patients in Class II-III (Group B). In Group A, measurements were made before and 1 and 4 h after felodipine administration. There was a substantial fall in systemic arterial pressure, which was not associated with a compensatory tachycardia. In fact, there was a fall in heart rate from 92 to 82 beats/min 1 h after drug administration. The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was reduced from 22 to 14 mm Hg and the cardiac index and stroke volume index rose significantly. Consequently, there was a marked reduction in systemic vascular resistance. In Group B measurements were performed at rest and during exercise before and 1 h after felodipine. The pulmonary wedge capillary pressure during exercise was lower than in the control situation. Coronary sinus flow was increased and there was a pronounced fall in coronary vascular resistance. The results would suggest that felodipine, by virtue of its ventricular unloading potency, might be a valuable drug in the treatment of congestive heart failure.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015736:Felodipine; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D009543:Nifedipine; D015736:Felodipine