[The effect of calcium antagonists on pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with chronic bronchitis with manifest and latent pulmonary hypertension].

Catheterization of the pulmonary artery and radiocirculography were used in 30 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) in order to study changes in hemodynamics induced by intravenous injections of 5 and 10 mg verapamil or by 4-5 weeks of the treatment with finoptin and corinfar. Out of 47 studies, 22 (47%) showed a positive effect which was primarily recorded in patients (72%) suffering from apparent pulmonary hypertension (PH). The effect manifested itself in the form of a decrease in the total pulmonary resistance and/or in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure. In 13 cases (27%), the effect turned out negative. Meanwhile 12 cases (26%) demonstrated no effect at all. A beneficial effect was mostly recorded after administering 5 mg verapamil, whereas administration of 10 mg verapamil and prolonged use of finoptin and corinfar produced varied actions, with the negative effect being observed even more frequently as compared to the positive one. The pattern of the pulmonary hemodynamic response to a single intravenous injection of verapamil was also preserved in 60% of cases undergoing continuous treatment with finoptin and corinfar. Calcium antagonists can be used for the treatment of PH in patients suffering from CB. At the same time it is required that all the patients may be necessarily examined for hemodynamics.