Evaluation of the effect of nifedipine in patients with chronic congestive heart failure
Cholewa, M.; Górski, L.; Gawor, Z.; Markiewicz, K.; Dryjański, T.; Bechler-Lisińska, J.; Broks-Bratkowska, B.
Kardiologia Polska 32(Suppl 2): 33-40
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9032 PMID: 2699339 Document Number: 328250
18 patients with II NYHA class chronic congestive heart failure (CCHF) had been given nifedipine (Cordipin) 54.4 +/- 12.0 mg (day) for 6 weeks (group I). In 25 patients with III--IV NYHA class CCHF after 2-week optimal improvement of a clinical state with digoxine (D) and furosemide (F), nifedipine (N) had been added for 2 weeks/mean daily dose -- 40.8 +/- 12.8 mg (group II). Estimation of a left ventricular function using 2-DE and a submaximal effort tolerance as well as clinical examinations were carried out initially, after 2 and 6 weeks in group I, whereas in group II post D, F 2-week therapy and after next 2 weeks of combined D, F, N treatment. Nifedipine significantly increased ejection fraction from 44.2 +/- 13.0% to 49.0 +/- +/- 12.6% and decreased myocardial oxygen demand factor from 23.36 +/- 9.81 to 21.08 +/- 7.55 X 10(3) (p less than 0.05). Nonsignificant but marked increase of diuresis, cardiac and stroke indices as well as body weight loss were observed. Nifedipine addition to D and F neither improved nor deteriorated examined parameters in patients with III-IV NYHA class CCHF. Nifedipine did not also improve the submaximal exercise tolerance in both groups.