[Comparative studies of hemodynamics under prostacyclin and nifedipine in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome].

In 10 patients 4-20 years of age with obstructive pulmonary vascular disease after Eisenmenger reaction pulmonary arterial and aortic pressure, pulmonary and systemic flow (Qp, Qs), and pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance (Rp, Rs) were determined before and during stepwise increasing doses of prostacyclin and nifedipine. Prostacyclin caused a significant decrease of pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance and a significant decrease of pressures in the aorta and the pulmonary artery, whereas no significant changes of hemodynamics were realized following nifedipine. The individual hemodynamic changes during prostacyclin were favorable in only two patients who demonstrated a marked decrease of Rp with no substantial change of Rs resulting in an increase in arterial oxygen saturation. In the other patients prostacyclin resulted in an adverse effect with a decrease of Rs exceeding that of Rp in 5 patients, a paradoxical increase of Rp in 1 patient, and a critical decrease of Qs with respective low central venous blood oxygen saturation and consequently low arterial oxygen saturation caused by a small right-to-left shunt in 2 patients. Nifedipine did not bring about a significant general change of hemodynamic parameters. The individual control showed no effect in 5 patients, an unfavorable effect by a decrease of Rs exceeding that of Rp in 2 patients, and a favorable net effect in only 3 patients, induced in 1 patient only after a very high dosage of nifedipine and leading to a certain increase of arterial oxygen saturation in only 1 other patient. From our results a beneficial effect of nifedipine in an average dosage on the hemodynamics of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome cannot be recognized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)