[Hemodynamic effects of aldosterone antagonists in patients with mitral stenosis (author's transl)]

In 12 patients with mitral stenosis of a severity that surgery was required, some hemodynamic parameters after intravenous injection of 400 mg Kaliumcanrenoat were studied. The hemodynamic changes were noted after 15 min and reached maximal values after 60 min. The increased values of pulmonary wedge, pulmonary artery and right atrial pressures were significantly reduced and the cardiac index and stroke volume index augmented, with unchanged systemic arterial pressure. Thus, a remarkable relief from pulmonary congestion followed, accompanied by an increase of the left-ventricular working index.--These results encourage the use of aldosterone antagonists in certain cases suffering from severe mitral stenosis.