Vasodilator therapy with a new stable prostacyclin analog, OP-41483, for congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease and comparison of hemodynamic effects and platelet aggregation with nitroprusside.

A new stable prostacyclin analog, OP-41483, was used in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) due to coronary artery disease and compared with nitroprusside. During infusion of both drugs, mean brachial arterial pressure, total pulmonary resistance, pulmonary artery wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased significantly. Cardiac index and stroke index also increased significantly. Platelet aggregation did not change significantly during nitroprusside but decreased significantly with OP-41483 infusion. Thus, this analog may be useful for treatment of patients with CHF due to coronary artery disease.