Is nisoldipine capable of reducing left ventricular preload?

In ten anesthetized pigs, nisoldipine (2-4 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1), a calcium channel blocker structurally related to nifedipine, reduced left ventricular systolic pressure (40%) and systemic vascular resistance (35%), whereas maxLVdP/dt decreased by 20% and cardiac output was unchanged. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (15%) and end-diastolic pressure (40%) decreased, while ejection fraction slightly increased (13%). In normal hearts, nisoldipine reduces left ventricular pre- and afterload, without a depression of myocardial contractility, which results in a more efficient emptying of the left ventricle.