Influence of minoxidil on myocardial hemodynamics, regional blood flow, and morphology in beagle dogs.

Studies were made of the effects of two doses of minoxidil (3 mg/kg), given 24 hours apart, on cardiovascular hemodynamics, regional myocardial blood flow, and cardiac morphology in beagle dogs. Minoxidil caused increases in mean right atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance were reduced; cardiac output was increased. Left ventricular stroke work and the systolic pressure time index were unchanged by monoxidil administration. The diastolic pressure time index and ratio of diastolic/systolic pressure time index were decreased by minoxidil. Regional myocardial blood flow, measured with radioactive microspheres, increased in all regions of the heart except to the left ventricular papillary muscles. Minoxidil increased blood flow to left ventricular subendocardial tissue; however, this increase was significantly less than that observed in corresponding areas of subepicardial tissue, thus reducing the subendocardial/subepicardial tissue blood flow ratio. These results suggest that minoxidil is an effective peripheral vasodilator but may result in inadequate subendocardial perfusion. Morphologic studies disclosed two types of minoxidil-induced cardiac lesions: left ventricular papillary muscle necroses, and hemorrhagic lesions which were most prominent in right atrium and were associated with inflammation, intramural hemorrhage, and fibrinoid necrosis of small arteries. The papillary muscle necrosis were attributed to hypoxia. The atrial lesions were not of ischemic or hypoxic origin, because minoxidil did not decrease blood flow to atrial tissue. It is suggested that the atrial lesions are related to excessive vasodilation.