[Acute changes of the mechanical function of the ischaemic left ventricle by sublingual nifedipine (author's transl)].

In 20 patients, who had undergone a routine cardiac catheterization for the evaluation of anginal syndrome, some parameters of mechanical function of left ventricle (LV) were evaluated before and after left ventriculography was performed. Then, the same parameters were also measured, in identical technical conditions, after the administration of 20 mg of sublingual nifedipine (NIF). After NIF a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in left ventricular systolic and diastolic pressure, aortic diastolic pressure and left ventricular enddiastolic and endsystolic volumes was observed; while, heart rate, dP/dt max, stroke volume and ejection fraction were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Evaluation of LV segmental wall motion, after NIF, revealed no changes of wall motion in normal areas or in those with akinesis or dyskinesis; while, 68% of the areas with slight hypokinesis and 55% of those with severe hypokinesis were significantly improved after NIF (P < 0.005). Thus, we concluded that NIF does not cause a depression of LV mechanical function. The improvement of LV wall motion displayed by the areas with a transitory ischemic damage could be attributed to the reduction in preload and, more significantly, in afterload induced by NIF.