Comparative effects of calcium-channel blocking agents on left ventricular function during acute ischemia in dogs with and without congestive heart failure.

To examine the relative potencies of verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem on left ventricular (LV) function under ischemic conditions, 20 conscious closed-chest dogs that had partial occlusion of their circumflex coronary arteries were studied. Myocardial blood flow was measured by microspheres, LV function by radionuclide angiography. Drug effects were compared at doses causing equal decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and in coronary vascular resistance of the nonischemic zone. Global ejection fraction (EF) and EF of the ischemic region were significantly decreased by verapamil (p less than 0.002) and increased by nifedipine (p less than 0.001); diltiazem caused no significant changes. Verapamil significantly increased peak diastolic filling rate (p less than 0.001); nifedipine also increased diastolic filling rate but only at doses that markedly decreased MAP and coronary vascular resistance. Diltiazem was not significantly different from placebo. For doses causing an equal decrease in MAP, verapamil decreased heart rate (p less than 0.001), and diltiazem and nifedipine increased heart rate (p less than 0.05). Myocardial ischemic zone flow remained unchanged during placebo, verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine infusion. To study the influence of heart failure on the hemodynamic effects of the calcium-channel blocking agents, 6 foxhounds underwent total occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery, resulting in myocardial infarction, volume loading to increase left atrial pressure and partial occlusion of the circumflex coronary artery. Verapamil depressed global left ventricular ejection fraction and increased left atrial pressure to as high as 40 to 45 mm Hg. In contrast, nifedipine decreased left atrial pressure and increased global EF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)