Acute haemodynamic effects of urapidil in patients with chronic left ventricular failure

Urapidil, a new alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking drug, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hypertension. Ten normotensive patients with severe congestive heart failure were given Urapidil 25 mg i.v. twice in 15 min and the haemodynamic effects were measured. There was a significant fall in systolic blood pressure (-16%), mean blood pressure (-13%), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (-38%), mean pulmonary artery pressure (-31%) and wedge pressure (-40%). Total peripheral resistance fell by 25%, whereas pulmonary arteriolar resistance did not change significantly. Cardiac output increased by 22%. The increase in cardiac output with decreasing peripheral resistance and LV pressures suggests that urapidil may be useful in the therapy of congestive heart failure.