[Nitroglycerin, furosemide and ethacrynic acid effect on hemodynamics in rest and during ergometric load in coronary...

The haemodynamic effects of intravenous injections of furosemide and ethacrynic acid as well as those of peroral administration of nitroglycerin were studied in 32 patients (4-12 weeks after acute myocardial infarction) during rest and exercise. Cardiac output, heart rate and arterial blood pressure showed no significant changes after administration of nitroglycerin, furosemide and ethacrynic acid (fig 3). A few minutes after application of nitroglycerin or furosemide there were significant falls of pulmonary arteria diastolic pressure and right atrial pressure (fig. 1 and 2), whereas no changes were seen after injection of ehtacrynic acid. This initial effect of furosemide as well as the effect of nitroglycerin is primarily of vascular origin, causing an increased peripheral venous capacitance. Ethacrinic acid failed to exhibit any direct vascular effect. Therefore during pulmonary oedema nitroglycerin together with furosemide should be given.