[Changes in scintigraphically determined regional blood volume in coronary patients treated with the new substance...

To evaluate the effects of the new compound teopranitol (KC 046) on blood volume distribution scintigraphic measurements were performed in 10 patients with coronary heart disease. The data were compared to the results in 10 untreated patients with coronary heart disease. The differences in blood volume distribution were calculated by the ratio of the impulse rates thorax/abdomen, thorax/thigh, thorax/shank and heart/total impulse rates assessed by scintigraphy, following in vivo labeling of red blood cells with 99m-Tc, before and after i.v. injection of 0.04 mg KC 046/kg body weight. A significant decrease of the ratios could be found, whereas the data in the untreated group did not change significantly. It is concluded from these results that the clinical improvement of the patients with coronary heart disease treated by KC 046 is caused by a significant shift of blood volume from the thoracic region into the abdomen and the legs, thus decreasing the preload of the left ventricle.