Hemodynamic assessment of nicardipine alone and with atenolol in coronary artery disease using a modified echo-doppler device

We have used a modified noninvasive echo-Doppler cardiac output device, based on the principle of attenuated compensation volume flow, to assess the cardiovascular effects of the slow-calcium antagonist nicardipine in coronary disease. The dose-response effects of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg intravenous nicardipine were determined in 8 patients with angina. Dose-related decreases were seen in systemic mean arterial pressure (p <0.01) after administration of nicardipine. Cardiac pumping indexes were improved, as evident from linear increases in cardiac stroke volume (p <0.01), stroke length (p <0.01) and time-averaged mean velocity (p <0.01).