[Effects of nicardipine on left ventricular function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

Calcium channel blockers have emerged as important adjuncts to pharmacotherapy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Nicardipine, a new hydropyridine calcium channel blocker, was evaluated for its short-term effects (14 days, 20 mg tid) on left ventricular function in 16 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with UCG. Results indicated that heart rate, blood pressure and systolic function changed very little after nicardipine (P greater than 0.05). However, the following changes were noted after administration: IVRT decreased (132.4 +/- 21.2----120.7 +/- 27.0, P less than 0.02); left ventricular posterior wall rapid filling amplitude and mean velocity increased (8.86 +/- 2.23----9.68 +/- 2.41, P less than 0.01; 54.96 +/- 13.6----59.66 +/- 18.36, P less than 0.05); EF slope increased (3.52 +/- 1.33----3.88 +/- 1.37, P less than 0.01); left ventricular end diastolic pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased (11.79 +/- 3.32----9.72 +/- 2.46, P less than 0.01; 11.11 +/- 2.97----9.19 +/- 2.42, P less than 0.01). The conclusion is that nicardipine may improve left ventricular diastolic function of patients with HCM without serious side effects. It is valuable to conduct further study.