RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of vasodilator treatment with felodipine on haemodynamic responses to treadmill exercise in congestive heart failure.
JF British Heart Journal
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 314
OP 320
DO 10.1136/hrt.52.3.314
VO 52
IS 3
A1 A D Timmis
A1 P Smyth
A1 J F Kenny
A1 S Campbell
A1 D E Jewitt
YR 1984
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/52/3/314.abstract
AB Treatment with vasodilators in heart failure has not always produced a useful improvement in the haemodynamic responses to exercise, and in many cases early drug tolerance has further limited the potential of this type of treatment. In a study to evaluate the efficacy of felodipine, a new calcium antagonist with selective vasodilator properties, in the management of congestive heart failure 10 patients with congestive heart failure underwent treadmill exercise testing before and during oral treatment with felodipine 30 mg daily. At every level of exercise felodipine lowered the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, whereas cardiac index and stroke index increased considerably. The haemodynamic improvement was associated with an increase in the duration of exercise to exhaustion. Importantly, these beneficial effects were sustained throughout four weeks of treatment without evidence of drug tolerance. These observations suggest a useful role for felodipine in the long term management of congestive heart failure.