Beneficial effects of NTG on left ventricular volumes and systolic function in patients with myocardial infarction.

The effect of sublingual administration and intravenous drip of nitroglycerin (SLNTG and IVNTG) on left ventricular volumes (LVVs) were studied and systolic function was quantitatively assessed with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in 28 patients with myocardial infarction (MI), including 13 cases without heart failure (MI-NHF) in one group and 15 with heart failure (MI-HF) in another. The results showed that after SLNTG and IVNTG in both groups the heart rate (HR) increased significantly (P < 0.05-0.001); the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05-0.001); the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was not significantly changed (all P > 0.05); the left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV and ESV) both significantly reduced [EDV: decreased by 5.8-11.6% (-13.2-19.0 ml), P < 0.05-0.001; ESV: decreased by 9.6-16.6% (-8.6-17.3 ml), P < 0.05-0.001)]; the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) all significantly elevated (increased by 6.6%-9.4% (3.2%-3.4%), P < 0.05-0.001] except in MI-NHF group after IVNTG; the segmental EF of normal and hypokinetic segments also significantly increased (P < 0.05-0.001). The results suggest that NTG could beneficially reduce left ventricular EDV and ESV; and improve or strengthen its global and segmental systolic function in MI patients, particularly noticeable in patients with heart failure.