[Intravenous isosorbide dinitrate in acute cardiac failure (author's transl)]

Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) was used by intravenous infusion in 7 patients with acute cardiac failure consecutive to acute (5) or chronic (1) myocardial infarction or to non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (1). Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP), right atrial pressure (RAP) and cardiac output were measured (PCP), right atrial pressure (RAP) and cardiac output were measured by intracardiac catheterization. The initial dosage of 2.5 mg/hour was increased until PCP was reduced to 15 mmHg or less or until troublesome side-effects developed. Control was achieved in 3 patients with doses of 2.5 to 7 mg/hour and, to a lesser extent, in one patient with up to 20 mg/hour. Three patients failed to respond even to higher doses and needed furosemide i.v. or furosemide + dobutamine. One patient died of cardiogenic shock. No changes in cardiac output, heart rate and blood pressure and no clinical side-effects were recorded. Thus, in acute cardiac failure ISDN may be effective in doses slightly superior to those of nitroglycerin, but increasing the dosage above 7 or 8 mg/hour does not bring additional benefits. The drug is remarkably well tolerated.