Hemodynamic effects of a new calcium antagonist, bepridil, in patients with coronary artery disease

Hemodynamic Effects of the New Calcium Antagonist Bepridil in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. For the evaluation of the hemodynamic effects of the new calcium antagonist bepridil 11 patients with coronary artery disease were studied. The following parameters were measured before, immediately after and 20 min after injection of 3 mg/kg bepridil i.v.: pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, mean aortic pressure, peripheral vascular resistance, prolongation of the QT-interval in the ECG. Bepridil led acutely to a slight deterioration of the left ventricular function with a significant increase of the preload, but this negative effect was neutralized by the concomitant decrease of the afterload. These results indicate a favorable hemodynamic profile of this new agent.