Beneficial Effects of the Calcium Antagonist PN 200–110 in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

We studied the acute hemodynamic effects of PN 200-110, a newly available calcium antagonist, in 12 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Measurements of cardiac performance were obtained by a right heart catheter before and after administration of 5 and 15 mg of PN. Peak drug effects occurred 1-2 h following the administration of PN 200-110 and were dose related. The 15-mg dose reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 90 +/- 11 to 75 +/- 6 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) (p less than 0.001) and decreased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) from 1,740 +/- 500 to 995 +/- 300 dynes X s X cm-5 (p less than 0.01). Stroke volume index (SVI) increased from 26 +/- 7 to 36 +/- 10 ml/m2 (p less than 0.001), and cardiac index (CI) rose from 2.1 +/- .3 to 2.8 +/- .6 L/m2 (p less than 0.01). Pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAW) changed insignificantly. Seven patients performed graded supine exercise at identical workloads before and after treatment. When peak exercise values were compared, the addition of PN 200-110 further reduced SVR from 1,282 +/- 461 to 936 +/- 356 dynes X s X cm-5 (p less than 0.01) and increased CI from 3.3 +/- 1.1 to 4.3 +/- 1.3 L/m2 (p less than 0.01). Only minor, self-limiting side effects were noticed during acute administration. Of the seven patients discharged on PN 200-110 and followed for at least 6 months, six reported substantial relief of symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)