[Effect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on central and peripheral hemodynamics in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension]

Abstract

15 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) were studied. An acute test with 20 mg nifedipine (N) sublingually was performed and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured. N had manifest arterolodilating effect in the systemic and especially pulmonary circulation, induced decrease in the total peripheral and total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPerVR and TPulVR) by 21.7 and 25.3%, correspondingly. N had principal effect on pulmonary arterioles (TPerVR/TPulVR ratio increased by 16.9%). Systolic and diastolic PAP decreased in this case by 15.2 and 18.4%, correspondingly. All the patients demonstrated increase in cardiac output (on the average by 17.0%) and insignificant increase in heart rate (7.4%).