CHANGES IN DIAMETERS OF SMALL PULMONARY VENOUS AND ARTERIAL VESSELS AFTER NITROGLYCERIN

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (7) , 547-554
Abstract
Diameters of the small arterial and venous pulmonary vessels were studied in 17 patients, using selective pulmonary angiography. The majority had coronary heart disease. Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics were evaluated. In 11 patients, these procedures were repeated 3 min after the sublingual administration of 1.6 mg nitroglycerin (group 1). The remaining 6 patients served as controls (group 2). In group 1, pulmonary circulatory pressures, left ventricular filling pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance declined significantly compared with group 2. The diameters of the small pulmonary veins declined by more than 10% in group 1 while remaining constant in group 2. Differences between the 2 groups in terms of the response of the small arterial vessels were less evident. Increases in vessel cross-sectional area were observed despite considerably reduced intravascular pressure. The increase in elasticity and capacitance of the pulmonary vessels following nitroglycerin is more pronounced on the venous than on the arterial side. The pulmonary vascular bed contributes significantly to the therapeutically important pooling effect caused by nitroglycerin in the treatment of angina pectoris and pulmonary edema.

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