Hemodynamic effects of pimobendan given orally in congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
Hagemeijer, F.; Brand, H.J.; Van Mechelen, R.
American Journal of Cardiology 63(9): 571-576
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9149
PMID: 2919561
Accession: 007392739
Pimobendan (UD-GC 115 BS) was administered orally to 23 patients with congestive heart failure (functional class IV) caused by coronary artery disease (11 patients) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (12). All patients received maintenance doses of digoxin, furosemide and warfarin. Baseline data, collected during 15 hours, stayed within a 10% range. A 10-mg oral dose of pimobendan increased the heart rate from 95 .+-. 20 to 109 .+-. 24 beats/min (p < 0.003). The pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased from 23.0 .+-. 5.9 to 10.1 .+-. 5.2 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), the cardiac index increased from 1.9 .+-. 0.4 to 3.3 .+-. 0.7 liters/min/m2 (p < 0.0001) and the left ventricular stroke work index increased from 2,005 .+-. 927 to 3,065 .+-. 1,161 ml/mm Hg/m2 (p < 0.0001). Statistically significant improvements in hemodynamic variables were still present 10 hours after the administration of pimobendan. Most patients felt better and reported no angina or other side effect, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias was unchanged and no electrocardiographic changes suggesting ischemia were observed. Patients with severe congestive heart failure experienced a prolonged improvement of their cardiovascular condition after a single dose of pimobendan.