Nifedipine in cor pulmonale

Twelve patients with cor pulmonale secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had their arterial blood gases and lung function tests measured before and three weeks after nifedipine 10mg tds. PaO2 increased from 66.43 +/- 11.9 mm Hg to 71.98 +/- 10.8 mm Hg[P< 0.05]. Pa 002 decreased from 60.56 +/- 9.1 mm Hg to 55.37 +/- 7.1 mm Hg [P<0.02]. The arterial saturation increased from 76.28 +/- 6.5% to 83.71 +/- 4.9% [P<0.001]. The FEVI, PEVI / PVC and MVV all improved but the change was not statistically significant. There was an over all improvement of symptoms in all patients