Acute effects of nifedipine on patients with chronic obstructive lung disease

The bronchodilatory effect of nifedipine (Adalat) and the change of arterial blood gas in 5 normal and 25 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) were investigated. 10 or 20 mg of nifedipine was orally administered. Before and 2 h after the administration, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), arterial blood gas, respiratory resistance (Rrs) were measured and spirometry was assessed. Decrease of BP and increase of HR were observed in both normal and patient group. The patient group showed an increase of forced vital capacity (FVC) by 150 ml and forced expiratory volume (FEV 1.0) by 140 ml in average. In spite of the improvement of spirometry and Rrs, delta AaPO2 (alveolar arterial oxygen pressure difference) was increased in the patient group. It was considered, that the effect on the cardiovascular system was more remarkable than the bronchodilation, and the use of the drug alone as a bronchodilator may not be appropriate. It may be particularly effective in the cases with cardiovascular disease complicated with COLD.