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Time course of cardiac performance in hypertensive patients after verapamil assessed by nuclear ventriculography

A González-Gómez1, J Fránquiz, D García-Barreto

  • 1Psychiatric Hospital of Havana, Cuba.

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy, and Toxicology
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Oral verapamil significantly reduced blood pressure in hypertensive patients. This essential hypertension treatment lowered systolic and diastolic pressure, potentially by decreasing left ventricular ejection fraction and causing systemic vasodilation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Essential hypertension is a common cardiovascular condition.
  • Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension.
  • The precise mechanisms of verapamil's hypotensive effects require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of oral verapamil monotherapy on blood pressure, ECG, and ventricular function in essential hypertensive patients.
  • To explore the relationship between hemodynamic changes and ventricular function parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A group of 16 essential hypertensive patients received oral verapamil (320 mg/day).
  • Blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), and ventricular function (nuclear ventriculography) were assessed.
  • Measurements included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular ejection rate (LVER), right ventricular filling rate (RVFR), and total blood volume (TBV).

Main Results:

  • Verapamil significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001).
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and ejection rate (LVER) were significantly reduced (p < 0.001 and p < 0.02, respectively).
  • Right ventricular filling rate (RVFR) and total blood volume (TBV) were also significantly diminished (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Verapamil monotherapy effectively reduces blood pressure in essential hypertension.
  • The hypotensive action of verapamil may be partly attributed to a reduction in LVEF and systemic vasodilation.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the cardiovascular effects of verapamil.

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