Twenty-Four-Hour Hemodynamic Effects of Two Different Dihydropyridine Derivatives Assessed by Noninvasive Methods in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

In a placebo-controlled randomized double-blind cross-over study, 16 patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA class II; 12 males and 4 females; 60.6 ± 6.2 years; body weight 72.2 ± 11.7 kg; mean ± SD) received single oral doses of either 10 mg felodipine extended release, 20 mg nitrendipine, or placebo. The patients were crossed over to the subsequent treatments after 4-day washout intervals. Mechanocardiography (systolic time intervals), impedance cardiography, venous occlusion plethysmography, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured before as well as 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after drug administration. Felodipine and nitrendipine significantly increased stroke volume and the Heather index in impedance cardiography, whereas the preejection period significantly decreased in mechanocardiography. Two hours after drug administration, the effect of felodipine on mechano- and impedance cardiographie parameters was more pronounced than that of nitrendipine. In conclusion, in the present study, felodipine had a longer-lasting and more pronounced influence on the cardiovascular parameters determined than nitrendipine.