Arterial Dilators in Mitral Regurgitation: Effects

± 88 to 964 ± 76 dyn-sec-cm-5 (mean ± SEM) (p < 0.001). As a result, pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased from 18 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 mm Hg (p < 0.025), cardiac index increased from 2.5 ± 0.1 to 3.7 ± 0.2 I/min/m2 (p < 0.001) and stroke volume index increased from 30 ± 2 to 39 ± 2 mI/m' (p < 0.001). The effects of hydralazine on exercise hemodynamics were evaluated in 12 patients. Before treatment, the patients exercised at increasing work loads until limited by symptoms. After hydralazine therapy, exercise was repeated at identical work loads. Although exercise alone resulted in a reduction in systemic vascular resistance, from 1385 ± 88 to 1111 ± 118 dyn-sec-cm, the addition of hydralazine caused a further reduction in resistance, from 1111 ± 118 to 755 ± 72 dyn-sec-cm' (p < 0.005). Hydralazine reduced pulmonary artery wedge pressure during exercise from 27 ± 2 to 21 ± 1 mm Hg and increased cardiac index from 3.7 ± 0.3 to 4.9 ± 0.3 1/min/m2 (bothp < 0.001) and stroke volume index from 36 ± 3 to 45 ± 2 ml/in (p < 0.005). All 16 patients were discharged on hydralazine therapy and their clinical course was followed. A marked improvement in symptoms from New York Heart Association functional class III-VI to class I-II, which was sustained for at least 6 months, occurred in seven patients (44%). One patient improved from class IV to class III. The mean follow-up in these eight patients has been 13 ± 4 months. In four of the eight remaining patients, hydralazine was discontinued because of intolerable side effects. Mitral valve surgery was performed in three of these patients as well as in four patients who demonstrated an initial hemodynamic response to therapy but failed to experience symptomatic improvement. These data demonstrate that hydralazine therapy results in substantial improvement in cardiac performance in patients with mitral regurgitation. The beneficial effects seen at rest are maintained during exercise. The acute improvement in hemodynamics resulted in sustained clinical improvement in half the patients with mitral regurgitation; the other half needed valve surgery. Arterial dilator therapy is of benefit for some patients with severe mitral regurgitation.