Exercise hemodynamics and oxygen delivery in human hypertension. Response to verapamil

To characterize the hemodynamic response to exercise and the effects of calcium channel antagonism in hypertensive subjects, invasive exercise hemodynamics were performed in the baseline state after intravenous infusion of verapamil and after 5 to 7 days of oral verapamil in 10 subjects with moderate to severe hypertension. We also assessed oxygen delivery and use and the response of the sympathetic nervous system by measuring plasma norepinephrine levels at rest and during exercise. Both routes of administration were associated with significant reductions of mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance at rest and peak exercise (p less than 0.05). Changes in heart rate were not statistically significant. Following oral administration of verapamil, stroke volume increased significantly in both the resting and exercise states. Pulmonary wedge pressure did not increase; in fact, the Frank-Starling relationship of cardiac performance actually was improved. Oxygen delivery and use were unchanged with both routes of administration. There was no significant difference in rest and exercise plasma norepinephrine levels following verapamil therapy. Thus, verapamil resulted in a significant reduction of mean arterial pressure, mediated by a significant reduction of systemic vascular resistance, following both intravenous and short-term oral administration. This reduction occurred without expression of left ventricular dysfunction and was not at the expense of increased oxygen use or enhanced sympathetic nervous systemic activity.