[Treatment of hyperkinetic heart syndrome with alinidine and propranolol]

A hyperkinetic heart syndrome has been diagnosed in 10 patients by clinical investigation and right-heart catheterization at rest and during exercise. Subsequently, the patients received 3 X 40 mg alinidine, and 2 X 40 mg propranolol and placebo, each for 2 weeks in a double-blind crossover study. Heart rate at rest (P less than 0.05) and during exercise (P less than 0.001) decreased significantly under alinidine and propranolol to the same extent (control, 83/170; alinidine, 68/146; propranolol, 73/139; placebo, 83/162 beats per min). Lower limb flow at rest and after exercise, measured by plethysmography, as well as left-ventricular fractional shortening and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, measured by echocardiography, decreased insignificantly. Sedation and a dry mouth occurred in six patients under alinidine, while fatigue and cold hands and/or feet were reported by five patients under propranolol. Thus, alinidine may be used as an alternative to beta-blocking in the treatment of the hyperkinetic heart syndrome.