A haemodynamic and radionuclide assessment of diltiazem in coronary heart disease.

To obtain multiple dose-response haemodynamic and radionuclide data on i.v. diltiazem, 12 ischaemic patients were studied during routine catheterization. At rest, following a 20 min stable control period, the effects of four doses (0.0625, 0.0625, 0.125 and 0.25 mg kg-1 diltiazem at 5 min intervals) were measured in the 3-5 min following i.v. injection. The exercise effects of the cumulative 0.5 mg kg-1 dosage were assessed by comparing a control and post drug period of supine bicycle exercise. The increase in plasma diltiazem levels correlated linearly with the administered dose and achieved therapeutic levels. There were significant dose-related reductions in systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance index; the heart rate fell and cardiac stroke index increased. The calculated double-product (heart rate X systolic blood pressure) was significantly reduced. The left ventricular filling pressures, ejection fraction and cardiac volumes were unaltered. During supine bicycle exercise, the systemic diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and calculated double-product were reduced without change in other parameters. Over the dose range 0.0625-0.5 mg kg-1, diltiazem acutely increased cardiac stroke index and reduced resting heart rate. These haemodynamic data, taken together with its described coronary vasodilator activity suggest that its role in acute vasospastic angina and during angiographic procedures ought to be explored further.