Cardiovascular effects of nifedipine--a 4-week treatment in preselected patients with coronary disease.

In 24 patients with coronary ischemic disease the cardiovascular effects of 10-mg tablets of nifedipine given three times daily for 28 days was studied with noninvasive techniques before and after standard work load. Five patients did not complete the study because of drug nontolerance and lack of therapeutic effectiveness. In 19 patients nifedipine has been found to produce positive changes in left ventricle contraction parameters without influencing positively the ECG parameters. An increase in heart rate and the ratio of cardiac oxygen demand to general oxygen consumption was observed. The increase in systolic blood pressure after work load during nifedipine therapy contraindicates use of this drug in cardiac patients with arterial hypertension.