Hemodynamic effects of molsidomine in patients with heart failure following acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

The short-term hemodynamic effects of molsidomine (4 mg sublingually) were evaluated in 13 patients with congestive heart failure following acute myocardial infarction. Right heart catheterization was performed by means of a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter. Hemodynamic measurements were made 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after the administration of the drug. Molsidomine significantly reduced systolic blood pressure from 121.5 +/- 3.3 (mean +/- SEM) to 111.1 +/- 2.9 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) after 60 minutes, mean right atrial pressure from 6.1 +/- 1 to 2.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001), mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 29.8 +/- 1.9 to 20.1 +/- 1.3 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001), and left ventricular filling pressure from 20.3 +/- 0.6 to 12.2 +/- 0.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001). No significant change occurred in heart rate, diastolic and mean blood pressure, cardiac index, stroke volume index, left ventricular stroke work index, systemic vascular resistance, and pulmonary vascular resistance. No side effects were seen after the administration of molsidomine.