Haemodynamic effects of nicardipine in acute myocardial infarction

The haemodynamic dose-response effects of the slow-calcium channel blocker nicardipine were evaluated in fifteen male patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. Following a 1 hr control period, during which the stability of base-line control haemodynamic variables was confirmed, four i.v. boluses of 1.25, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg of the drug (cumulative dosage 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg) were administered at 15 min intervals. The plasma concentrations achieved are within the previously described therapeutic range (greater than 20 micrograms/l). Nicardipine resulted in linear reductions in systemic arterial pressure and vascular resistance, and dose-related increases in heart rate, cardiac and stroke output without change in the left heart filling pressure. Intravenous nicardipine did not induce any depression of left ventricular pumping performance in our patients in the early stages of uncomplicated myocardial infarction.