[Effect of nifedipine in chronic left ventricular insufficiency in patients with post-infarction heart aneurysm]

A study was made of a vasodilating effect of nifedipine on the hemodynamics of 30 patients with chronic postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm, with chronic cardiovascular insufficiency of the II-III degree according to NYHA. A mean value of the acontractile segment on ventriculograms was 32.5 +/- 1.7%. The main parameters of systemic hemodynamics were studied by a method of integral body rheography 1 hour before and after sublingual intake of 20 mg of nifedipine (Corinfar, GDR) at rest, after exercise and during rehabilitation. An increase in the stroke and cardiac indices at rest by an average of 16% was revealed including a noticeable nifedipine effect in patients with elevated final diastolic pressure or arterial tension. During physical exercise a tendency toward an increase in the cardiac output was observed, mainly at the expense of a rise of the stroke volume after drug intake.