Arterial oxygenation and arterial oxygen transport in chronic myocardial failure at rest, during exercise and after hydralazine treatment.

Arterial oxygen transport (cardiac output x arterial oxygen content) may be decreased in heart failure. We studied the determinants of arterial oxygen transport in 15 patients with chronic, severe myocardial failure at rest and during cycle ergometry. During control therapy at rest, arterial oxygen tension was normal (81 +/- 8 mm Hg, mean +/- SD) and increased slightly during exercise (90 +/- 14 mm Hg). During hydralazine therapy at rest, arterial oxygen tension was slightly higher (87 +/- 9 mm Hg) and also increased during exercise (92 +/- 15 mm Hg). Hydralazine did not increase arterial oxygen tension (0.10 greater than p greater than 0.05), but exercise did (p less than 0.02). Arterial oxygen saturation and content were normal and did not change under any condition or treatment. During control therapy at rest, arterial oxygen transport was low (313 +/- 74 ml/min . m2) and remained abnormally low during exercise (434 +/- 124 ml/min . m2). During hydralazine therapy, arterial oxygen transport was higher at rest (457 +/- 100 ml/min . m2) and during exercise (577 +/- 131 ml/min . m2). Hydralazine increased arterial oxygen transport (p less than 0.01) because it increased stroke volume at rest and during exercise, but it did not change arterial oxygenation. Arterial oxygenation is normal in chronic heart failure patients at rest and during exercise. Hydralazine increases cardiac output and arterial oxygen transport without changing arterial oxygenation.