[Effect of nitroglycerin and N-ethoxycarbonyl-3-morpholinosydnonomine on the walls of large arteries]. / Action de la nitroglycérine et de la N. éthoxycarbonyl-3-morpholinosydnonimine sur les parois de gros troncs artériels.

ABSTRACT

Systemic arterial compliance was measured in 20 patients with left ventricular failure due to congestive cardiomyopathy. The method consisted in evaluating arterial compliance by analysing the exponential fall of the arterial pressure curve on a simple visco-elastic model. In the patient group, significant correlations were found between arterial compliance and age (r = 0,64 ; p less than 0,01) and arterial compliance and systolic blood pressure (r = -0,58 ; p less than 0,001). These relationships suggest that arterial compliance depends on the height of the systolic blood pressure and/or the elasticity of the arterial walls. Two groups of patients were defined Group I (10 patients) given a single oral dose of 7,5 mg of nitroglycerine (Lenitral), and Group II (10 patients) giben a single oral dose of 4 mg N ethoxycarbonyl-3-morpholinosydnonomine (Molsidomine). There was no significant difference in the hemodynamic parameters or arterial compliance between the two groups before administration of these drugs. However, systolic blood pressure was significantly lower (p less than 0,01) and compliance significantly higher (p less than 0,05) after treatment in Group II. In Group I, nitroglycerine caused a significant increase in compliance (p less than 0,01), a significant decrease in systolic (p less than 0,02) and mean blood pressure (p less than 0,05) whilst heart rate, cardiac output and total systemic resistance remained unchanged. In Group II, Molsidomine caused a significant increase in arterial compliance (p less than 0,01), a decrease in systolic (p less than 0,001), diastolic (p less than 0,01) and mean blood pressure (p less than 0,01) and in cardiac output (p less than 0,01), whilst heart rate and total systemic resistance remained unchanged. This study shows that both drugs studied had significant effects on the walls of the large arteries.