[Delayed-action nicardipine in the prolonged treatment of chronic congestive heart failure in responsive subjects].

We performed hemodynamic monitoring in 13 patients, 10 males and 3 females, mean age 57 +/- 11 years, affected by congestive heart failure, NYHA class III and IV. Hemodynamic evaluation was made at basal condition and for 40 min after the administration of nicardipine (10 mg iv). We observed that in 3 patients cardiac index didn't rise (increase less than 15%) with clinical worsening during the monitoring (patients non responders), while in 10 patients cardiac index increased more than 15% (patients responders). Patients responders, 8 males and 2 females, mean age 57 +/- 10 years, have been treated with oral nicardipine administered at the dosage of 40 mg td for 3 months. Three months after nicardipine treatment we observed a significant increase of exercise capacity and O2 uptake (respectively p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01); we noted also an improvement of cardio-thoracic ratio and of San Diego index (p less than 0.05). We conclude that patients responders to iv nicardipine receive beneficial clinical effects by chronic oral nicardipine.