[Effect of prolonged administration of beta-blockers on the hemodynamics of patients who have sustained a myocardial infarct]. / Vliianie dlitel'nogo priema beta-blokatorov na gemodinamiku u bol'nykh, perenesshikh infarkt miokarda.

The effect of prolonged treatment with the beta-blocker trimepranol on left-ventricular function was assessed in patients who survived myocardial infarction. Pulmonary arterial catheterization with a floating catheter was used for hemodynamic investigation. Hemodynamic parameters were compared in the treated (20 patients) and control (20 patients matched for age and infarction site) groups. The treated patients showed a reduction in heart rate and cardiac output at rest, as well as stress-induced elevation of the pulmonary arterial pressure and peripheral resistance. Patients with pulmonary hypertension often demonstrated changes of the pressure curve in the pulmonary artery as a possible manifestation of stress-induced mitral regurgitation. Prolonged treatment with trimepranol is associated with increased incidence of pulmonary hypertension in myocardial infarction survivers. The clinical significance of this observation is yet to be established by further studies. Stress-induced mitral regurgitation associated with a mitral subvalvular dysfunction may occasionally be the cause of elevated pulmonary blood pressure.