Hemodynamic effects of sublingual nifedipine in congestive heart failure.

Hemodynamic response of nifedipine in 11 patients with congestive heart failure was examined. Thirty minutes after sublingual administration of nifedipine, CI and SVI were increased together with a decrease in PAEDP and TSVRI. The increase in CI was proportional to the decrease in TSVRI. Twenty-four hours after continuous administration of nifedipine, however, six of 11 patients did not show the improvement of left ventricular function. These results indicate that sublingual administration of nifedipine is effective in the short-term therapy of the patients with a markedly decreased cardiac output and an increased systemic vascular resistance.