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Effects of nicardipine on cardiac volume at rest and during exercise-induced angina
Insights
Nicardipine reduced blood pressure and improved cardiac output at rest and during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease. It specifically enhanced ejection fraction in those with reduced baseline cardiac function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects myocardial oxygen supply and demand.
- Calcium channel blockers like nicardipine are used to manage angina and hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of nicardipine on cardiac hemodynamics and volumes at rest and during exercise in patients with CAD.
- To assess nicardipine's impact on cardiac reserve and ejection fraction.
Main Methods:
- 12 patients with angiographically-proven CAD were studied.
- Hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac index) and cardiac volumes (end-diastolic, end-systolic, ejection fraction) were measured at rest and during supine bicycle exercise, with and without nicardipine.
- Patients were stratified based on baseline ejection fraction.
Main Results:
- At rest, nicardipine decreased systemic vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure, increasing heart rate and cardiac index. Left ventricular filling pressure, ejection fraction, and volumes remained unchanged.
- During exercise, nicardipine reduced blood pressure, increased cardiac and stroke index, and attenuated the rise in left ventricular filling pressure.
- Improvements in ejection fraction and left ventricular volumes during exercise were observed in patients with a baseline ejection fraction below 50%.
Conclusions:
- Nicardipine favorably modulates hemodynamics at rest and during exercise in CAD patients.
- The drug's beneficial effects on cardiac function, particularly ejection fraction, are more pronounced in patients with impaired baseline cardiac reserve.
Abstract:
The action of nicardipine on cardiac volume, both at rest and during exercise-induced angina, was evaluated in 12 patients with angiographically-proven coronary artery disease. Nicardipine given to patients at rest reduced systemic vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure and increased heart rate and cardiac index. The left ventricular filling pressure, ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were unchanged. During supine bicycle exercise, the reduction in systemic arterial blood pressure following nicardipine increased cardiac and stroke index and attenuated the rise in left ventricular filling pressure observed in the control exercise. The effects of nicardipine on EF, end-diastolic and end-systolic cardiac volumes were dependent on the baseline cardiac reserve. In patients with EF less than 50%, nicardipine improved EF and left ventricular exercise volumes.