Molsidomine in the treatment of acute heart failure

In this report we present the results of hemodynamic monitoring with a Swan-Ganz balloon catheter in 14 patients with heart failure associated with acute myocardial infarction, before and during 8 hours after a single oral dose of molsidomine (6 mg). Molsidomine induced the following changes: heart rate was reduced between 1.6% and 4.7% (significant at 4 hours, p < 0.05); systolic blood pressure decreased 8.4% at 1 hour ( p < 0.05); pulmonary capillary pressure decreased approximately 30% (significant and lasting until 8 hours after administration, p < 0.002); cardiac index did not change significantly, although individual analysis showed an increase in 6 of 12 cases; stroke volume index increased by 6% (significant at 1 hour, p < 0.025); and left ventricualr stroke work index increased from 9.8% to 24.5% (significant at 1 and 4 hours, p < 0.01 and 0.025). These findings show the beneficial hemodynamic effects of molsidomine in patients with heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction.