Effect of sublingual nifedipine on left ventricular function in patients with essential hypertension

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on twenty essential hypertensive patients who received 20 mg Nifedipine sublingually. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced markedly. Systolic left ventricular function indicated by ejection fraction and fractional shortening showed significant improvement. Diastolic left ventricular function indicated by acceleration slope, deceleration slope and peak E showed also significant improvement. Isovolumic relaxation period decreased significantly. This improvement of left ventricular systolic function was attributed to reduction of systemic vascular resistance and improvement of left ventricular emptying which diminishes left ventricular wall tension with consequent improvement of coronary filling and cardiac performance, while the improvement of left ventricular diastolic function may be not only through changes in loading conditions, heart rate and contractility, but also through alternation in the intracellular calcium reuptake and changes in myocardial oxygen supply