[The effect of molsidomin on the arterial windkessel (author's transl)].

The antianginal effect of Molsidomin is due to a reduction of preload. The decrease of aortic pressure is interpreted by the diminuation of the cardiac output. It is not yet known whether there is an additional primary reduction of afterload, caused by a change of the elastic properties of the arterial windkessel. Therefore in ten patients the effects of Molsidomin were investigated. After Molsidomin the pulmonary capillary pressure decreased by 58%, and the cardiac index by 12%. Mean aortic pressure was diminished by 12%, too, The capacity of the windkessel C was determined from the diastolic pressure decay in the thoracic descending aorta. After Molsidomin there was a decrease of C by 21%. This decrease was due to a reduction in the filling-state but not to altered elastic properties of the arterial windkessel.