[The effect of nifedipine on the pulmonary artery pressure in patients with coronary heart disease (author's transl)].

Nifedipine was administered in a dose of 30 mg orally to 14 patients with coronary heart disease and clinical evidence of left heart failure. Measurements of pulmonary artery and pulmonary wedge pressure were performed before and 1, 2 and 4 hours after administration of Nifedipine at rest and under loading conditions. The effects were characterized by a significant decrease in systolic, mean and enddiastolic pulmonary artery pressures by 18--21%. The pulmonary wedge pressure decreased significantly from 2,3 to 1,6kPa (17 to 12 mm Hg). These changes were accompanied by a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure by an average of 10.5%. No signifcant change of heart rate was seen. The increase in pulmonary artery pressure during exercise is suppressed effectively by Nifedipine. The duration of activity lasted for four hours and was maximal in the second hour after administration of the drug. The suppression of exercise induced rise of pulmonary wedge pressure was paralleled by a substantial decrease in dyspnoea and anginal pain.