Cardiovascular drugs and therapy
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparative study of the first dose hypotensive effects of captopril and perindopril in patients with heart failure.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and are a first-line therapy for chronic heart failure. However, the first-dose may be associated with asymptomatic or symptomatic hypotension. In previous small series with different ACE inhibitors, different blood pressure responses have been reported. ⋯ When elderly patients (> or =70 years) were considered the same pattern of response was found. In summary, first-dose hypotension is not negligible on initiation of therapy with ACE inhibitors in heart failure patients with low ejection fraction. Perindopril results in significantly less reduction in blood pressure and a lower incidence of symptomatic or asymptomatic hypotensive episodes and allows a safer start of therapy than captopril in heart failure patients.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · May 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntravenous propafenone: efficacy and safety in the conversion to sinus rhythm of recent onset atrial fibrillation--a single-blind placebo-controlled study.
The effectiveness of intravenous propafenone for conversion to sinus rhythm (SR) of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), lasting less than 7 days, was evaluated with a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, given the possible spontaneous conversion of this arrhythmia. Group 1 (98 patients) received intravenous propafenone (2 mg/kg iv over 10 minutes followed by 0.007 mg/kg/min); and group 2 (84 patients) received intravenous placebo (0.9% saline solution). The infusion was continued until restoration of SR but no longer than 24 hours. ⋯ Two episodes of sinus standstill (3.4 and 3.8, seconds, respectively) occurred at SR restoration obtained with propafenone. Intravenous propafenone is an effective, safe, and usually rapid drug for AF treatment. Moreover, it produces a real and significant reduction in the mean ventricular rate in nonconverted patients.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Mar 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialDouble-blind comparison of the acute effects of two relevant doses of oral nicorandil on central hemodynamics, left ventricular function, and myocardial contractility.
Nicorandil is a nicotinamide derivative with potent vasodilator properties. Oral and sublingual administration of this compound in patients with coronary artery disease resulted in a predominant reduction of afterload and a small decrease in left ventricular preload. The effects of nicorandil in different doses on contractile left ventricular (LV) function, however, are not well defined. ⋯ LV contractility remained unchanged during the observation period. The hemodynamic profile of this compound is dose-dependent afterload reduction without a change in contractility. Because there was no concomitant increase in heart rate, calculated oxygen consumption was reduced, especially in the higher dose group.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Feb 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialModest antihypertensive effect of epanolol, a beta 1-selective receptor blocker with beta 1 agonist activity: an acute and long-term hemodynamic study at rest and during exercise and double crossover comparison with atenolol on ambulatory blood pressure.
Beta-blockers with less cardiodepressive effect than traditional nonselective beta(1+2)-blocking agents could be useful in the treatment of hypertension, provided the reduction in blood pressure was satisfactory. Epanolol, a selective beta 1-receptor blocker with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, induced a fall in intraarterial pressure of 8% at rest sitting and 11% during 100 W bicycle exercise after the first dose of 200 mg in 12 patients with essential hypertension. Heart rate, stroke index, and cardiac index initially fell by 14%, 11%, and 23%, respectively. ⋯ Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure was higher on epanolol (300 mg/day) than on atenolol (150 mg/day) treatment (137/97 vs. 128/91 mmHg). Thus, the achieved blood pressure reduction induced by epanolol was moderate, while other characteristics of beta-receptor blockade, in particular, the reduction of heart rate and cardiac output, were maintained. This suggests that the compound may be useful for other cardiovascular disorders, e.g., angina pectoris in patients without hypertension or cardiac arrhythmia.