[Differential therapy of myocardial ischemia in females]

Peripheral perfusion abnormalities are considered a possible reason for myocardial ischemia in the absence of visible coronary artery stenoses. In 85 women (age: 41-58 years, mean age: 46 +/- 8) with pathological exercise ECG (precordial mapping: 50 leads), hemodynamic studies were performed without medication, after sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG, 0.8 mg), sublingual Nifedipin (N, 30 mg), and intravenous Dipyridamol (D, 0.5 mg/kg). Eighteen women showed normal coronary arteries and a normal myocardial perfusion (group I), 21 an impaired perfusion due to coronary stenoses (Group II), and 46 women a reduced perfusion without visible changes (Group III). Reference methods were measurement of pulmonary artery pressure, 201-TI-scintigraphy, and coronary angiography. In group II, enddiastolic and endsystolic left ventricular volume (EDV, ESV) as well as enddiastolic pulmonary artery pressure (pAd) were increased, the ejection fraction (EF) was reduced, and cardiac output (CO) was normal. In group III, ESV, EDV, EF, and CO were significantly reduced, while pAd increased. In group II, N led to a normalization of ESV, EDV, EF, and pAd. In group III, NTG led to a reduction of pAd and EDV, and concomitantly to a further reduction of the already low CO. In both groups the reduction of ST-segment depressions after NTG was significant. N led to a moderate reduction of pAd and ST-segment depression, but to an increase of CO in both groups. D exhibited a comparable effect in group III. In group II an increase of ST-segment changes and of pAd with unchanged CO was observed. With regard to longterm treatment of women in group III, N and D seemed to be more efficacious than nitrates due to a beneficial effect on cardiac output.