Using an echo-Doppler method (Quantascope), the hemodynamic profile of the
calcium channel antagonist elgodipine (64 micrograms/kg, i.v.) was investigated in 22 patients with
angina pectoris at rest and during exercise. A placebo control was used. At rest,
elgodipine significantly decreased systemic vascular resistance as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while increasing cardiac output and stroke volume. During supine bicycle exercise the constant workload,
elgodipine significantly increased cardiac output and stroke volume, and decrease the rate-pressure-product (double product); the exercise systolic blood pressure was decreased without change in the diastolic component.
Elgodipine significantly reduced the incidence and severity (self-rated
pain score) of exercise-induced anginal systems. Heart rate was not affected by
elgodipine, either at rest or during exercise. In particular, no negative inotropy could be inferred from the echo-Doppler data. In the
elgodipine plasma concentration profile (HPLC), three phases of elimination with half-life times of less than 1 hour, between 3 and 7 hours, and between 10 and 24 hours may be distinguished, indicating a "shallow" and a "deep" compartment. The hemodynamic data indicate an intermediate pharmacodynamic profile of
elgodipine, lying between that of other
dihydropyridines and that od compounds such as
verapamil or
diltiazem.