Comparison of amlodipine or nifedipine treatment with developing congestive heart failure: Effects on myocyte contractility

• Published in: Journal of cardiac failure 2001-06, Vol.7 (2), p.158-164
• Main Authors: McElmurray, James H., Mukherjee, Rupak, Patterson, Terese M., Goldberg, Aron, King, Mary K., Hendrick, Jennifer W., Gay, David M., Clair, Mark J., Jolly, Jennifer R., Spinale, Francis G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: amlodipine; Amlodipine - pharmacology; Amlodipine - therapeutic use; Animals; calcium channel blocker; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Calcium Channel Blockers - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; heart failure; Heart Failure - diagnostic imaging; Heart Failure - drug therapy; Male; Microscopy, Video; Myocardial Contraction - drug effects; myocyte; nifedipine; Nifedipine - pharmacology; Nifedipine - therapeutic use; Pacemaker, Artificial; Swine; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Function, Left - drug effects
• ISSN: 1071-9164; 1532-8414
• DOI: 10.1054/jcaf.2001.24374

Background: Past studies have suggested that amlodipine, a dihydropyridine L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist, may exert useful effects in congestive heart failure (CHF). The present study examined the effects of amlodipine or nifedipine treatment in a model of developing CHF on left ventricular (LV) pump function and myocyte contractility. Methods and Results: Pigs (25 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: 1) pacing-induced CHF (rapid atrial pacing at 240 bpm) for 3 weeks (n = 9), 2) concomitant Ca2+ channel blockade with amlodipine (1.5 mg/kg/day) and rapid pacing (n = 7), 3) concomitant Ca2+ channel blockade with nifedipine (0.7 mg/kg twice daily) and rapid pacing (n = 7), and 4) sham controls (n = 7). LV fractional shortening fell with pacing CHF from baseline values (17% ± 1% v 42% ± 1%, P