title: Haemodynamic effects of prazosin in CHF.
abstract: The acute haemodynamic effects of oral prazosin have been studied, at cardiac catheterization, in 11 patients with CHF. In all patients there was a significant fall in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, mean aortic and pulmonary artery pressure and systemic vascular resistance, 60 minutes after 3.5 mg of prazosin. There was no significant change in heart rate but there was a significant increase in cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index. The patients received chronic therapy with prazosin one mg 3 times a day and CO was measured serially by the nitrous oxide whole body plethysmograph method. There was s sustained increase in cardiac index of 82% during the 8 week study period. Twelve months after the initial haemodynamic study 5 patients had improved sufficiently to return to normal work. A further 3 patients were improved symptomatically but were unable to return to their previous employment. Three patients died of a myocardial infarction. Prazosin has proved to be beneficial in CHF resistant to digitalis and diuretics.
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011224:Prazosin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D004077:Digoxin; D005665:Furosemide; D011224:Prazosin