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ARTICLE |

Vasodilators in the Treatment of Heart Failure FREE

Jawahar Mehta, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

This article is one of a series sponsored by the American Heart Association, edited by C. Richard Conti, MD.

Reprint requests to Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, PO Box J-277, J. Hillis Miller Health Center, Gainesville, FL 32610 (Dr Mehta).


JAMA. 1977;238(23):2534-2536. doi:10.1001/jama.1977.03280240080034
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DURING the last few years, there has been a great deal of interest in vasodilator therapy in cases of acute and chronic heart failure. Better understanding of cardiac physiology and development of bedside hemodynamic monitoring techniques using flowdirected catheters have provided impetus to evaluate different physiologic and pharmacologic interventions in acutely ill patients. Most patients with congestive heart failure have elevation of the left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and low cardiac output. Elevated LVFP (index of blood volume) is a compensatory phenomenon in the early stage of heart failure to maintain cardiac output. This beneficial effect may later result in excessive myocardial oxygen demand, decreased coronary flow, and symptoms of pulmonary congestion. Similarly, arterial constriction occurring initially in heart failure may be appropriate to maintain circulation to vital organs, but may eventually result in a decrease in cardiac output because of the elevated systemic vascular resistance.1

Experimental evidence shows

REFERENCES

Sonnenblick EH, Downing SE:  Afterload as a primary determinant of ventricular performance . Am J Physiol 204:604-610, 1963;.
Chatterjee K, Parmley WW, Ganz W, et al:  Hemodynamic and metabolic responses of vasodilator therapy in acute myocardial infarction . Circulation 48:1183-1193, 1973;.
Franciosa JA, Guiha NH, Limas CJ, et al:  Improved left ventricular function during nitroprusside infusion in acute myocardial infarction . Lancet 1:650-654, 1972;.
DaLuz PL, Forrester JS, Wyatt HC, et al:  Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of sodium nitroprusside on the performance and metabolism of regional ischemic myocardium . Circulation 52:400-467, 1975;.
Banka VS, Bodenheimer MM, Shah R, et al:  Intervention ventriculography: Comparative value of nitroglycerin, post-extrasystolic potentiation and nitroglycerin plus post-extrasystolic potentiation . Circulation 53:632-637, 1976;.
Chatterjee K, Parmley WW:  The role of vasodilator therapy in heart failure . Prog Cardiovasc Dis 19:301-325, 1977;.
Miller RR, Vismara LA, Williams DO, et al:  Pharmacological mechanisms for left ventricular unloading in clinical congestive heart failure: Differential effects of nitroprusside, phentolamine, and nitroglycerin on cardiac function and peripheral circulation . Circ Res 39:127-133, 1976;.
Franciosa JA, Pierpont G, Cohn JN:  Hemodynamic improvement after oral hydralazine in left ventricular failure . Ann Intern Med 86:388-393, 1977;.

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Sonnenblick EH, Downing SE:  Afterload as a primary determinant of ventricular performance . Am J Physiol 204:604-610, 1963;.
Chatterjee K, Parmley WW, Ganz W, et al:  Hemodynamic and metabolic responses of vasodilator therapy in acute myocardial infarction . Circulation 48:1183-1193, 1973;.
Franciosa JA, Guiha NH, Limas CJ, et al:  Improved left ventricular function during nitroprusside infusion in acute myocardial infarction . Lancet 1:650-654, 1972;.
DaLuz PL, Forrester JS, Wyatt HC, et al:  Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of sodium nitroprusside on the performance and metabolism of regional ischemic myocardium . Circulation 52:400-467, 1975;.
Banka VS, Bodenheimer MM, Shah R, et al:  Intervention ventriculography: Comparative value of nitroglycerin, post-extrasystolic potentiation and nitroglycerin plus post-extrasystolic potentiation . Circulation 53:632-637, 1976;.
Chatterjee K, Parmley WW:  The role of vasodilator therapy in heart failure . Prog Cardiovasc Dis 19:301-325, 1977;.
Miller RR, Vismara LA, Williams DO, et al:  Pharmacological mechanisms for left ventricular unloading in clinical congestive heart failure: Differential effects of nitroprusside, phentolamine, and nitroglycerin on cardiac function and peripheral circulation . Circ Res 39:127-133, 1976;.
Franciosa JA, Pierpont G, Cohn JN:  Hemodynamic improvement after oral hydralazine in left ventricular failure . Ann Intern Med 86:388-393, 1977;.
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To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
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