Differential therapy with calcium antagonists in pulmonary hypertension secondary to COPD. Hemodynamic effects of nifedipine, diltiazem, and verapamil.

In 53 patients with COPD and precapillary pulmonary hypertension, we investigated the effect of three typical calcium antagonists on hemodynamics at rest and during bicycle ergometer exercise. In the responders, the decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance following nifedipine was 23 percent at rest (p PH = pulmonary hypertension; RA = right atrial mean pressure; PAs = systolic pulmonary artery pressure: PAd = diastolic pulmonary artery pressure; PAP = mean pulmonary artery pressure; PCP = pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; RR = mean arterial Wood pressure; SM = stroke volume; index; TPR = total peripheral resistance; PVR = pulmonary vascular resistance