Study Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate at rest the short- and long-term effects of oral nifedipine (N) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Design and Setting: A prospective study with ten consecu

evaluate at rest the shortand long-term effects of oral nifedipine (N) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Design and Setting: A prospective study with ten consecu tive cases during two years in a setting of a district acute hospital. Thtients or Partkipants: Seven patients with advanced COPD and three with severe lung fibrosis (LF) during a period of stable condition. Three patients with COPD were eligible for the long-term investigation. interventionS: Right heart catheterization with a 7F Swan Ganz triple-lumen thermodilution catheter and radial can nulation with a 3F arterial catheter. Measurements and Results: Measurement of CO, MAP, iiX@i@, i@Ai@, i@Wi@, HR, and ABC and calculation of CI, TSR, PAR, and Do@ before and after 20 mgofN sublingually at rest. For the group as a whole, N induced a reduction in MAP and TSR, with a significant increase in CI and Do5. There were no significant changes in PAP, PAR (magnitude of the reduction: —¿ 10 percent), HR, and Pa05. The individual analysis of the driving pressures (PAP—PWP) in function of the cardiac output demonstrated that a real