Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018801 (heart failure)
 72,216 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Dihydralazine, sold under the name of Nepressol, is the derivative of the hydrazinophthalazines used in France for the treatment of severe cardiac failure. The hydrazinophthalazines act in cardiac failure by decreasing systemic arterial resistance and increasing cardiac output without causing tachycardia or increasing myocardial contractility in normal or hypotensive subjects. The hydrazinophthalazines are metabolised by N-acetyl-transferase in the liver. The hepatic concentration of this enzyme is genetically determined. The immediate haemodynamic results observed with 100 to 300 mg/daily of Nepressol are impressive: an 86 p. 100 increase in cardiac output; a 75 p. 100 decrease in systemic valvular resistance; a 25 p. 100 fall in left ventricular filling pressures. These haemodynamic results are maintained at long-term (3 to 48 months). This treatment is associated with an improvement in symptoms and functional capacity. However, its efficacy in improving survival has not been demonstrated. Immunological complications giving rise to a lupic syndrome result only in biological changes and do not influence management.
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PMID:[Role of dihydralazine in the treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency]. 402 12

The action, efficient dosage and tolerance of a pure vasodilator, dihydralazine, used for the treatment of severe heart failure were studied in 30 children aged 1 month to 14 years. All of them presented with heart failure from various causes, not controlled by the usual medical treatment. Dihydralazine was administered orally, without interrupting the digoxin-diuretic treatment, with a dose of 34 to 140 mg/m2/day given in 4 equal doses. Clinical efficacy was considered null in 12 cases, low in 12 cases and good in 6 cases, without relationship with the original heart defect. Five of the 6 good results were obtained with doses greater than or equal to 100 mg/m2/day. In the group of 16 children who were given doses greater than or equal to 100 mg/m2/day, a significant improvement of the ECG indexes of left ventricular performance was obtained: decrease in systolic left ventricular internal dimension (p less than 0.05 at day 5), increase of the shortening fraction (p less than 0.05 since day 1) and of velocity of shortening (p less than 0.01 since day 1), while the diastolic left ventricular internal dimension remained unchanged. The only transitory undesirable effects observed were headache, vomiting and/or rash in 9 cases.
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PMID:[Dihydralazine treatment of cardiac insufficiency in children]. 407 3

Antihypertensive vasodilators share the capability of producing vasodilation of arterioles. In addition, two of them, i.e. nitroprussiate and prazosine, also produce vasodilation of veinulae. Both of these agents cause a simultaneous decrease in pre-load and post-load, and may be used in heart failure. The effectiveness of vasodilators is offset by regulatory cardiac and/or renal mechanisms, and the association with a sympatholytic agent and/or a diuretic is generally needed. Consequently, vasodilators are usually the third step in the course of managing a hypertensive patient. Association with a betablocking agent is especially necessary in patients with coronary insufficiency, in order to prevent an increase in myocardial oxygen requirements and worsening of angina pectoris. Vasodilators are active within a fairly wide dosage range, making individualized dosages requisite. In treating hypertension by the oral route, daily doses above 200 mg for dihydralazine, 60 mg for minoxidil and 10 mg for prazosine are only exceptionnaly useful. In emergency treatment of hypertension, diazoxide and nitroprussiate can be used only in patients under continuous cardiovascular monitoring. Nitroprussiate must, in addition, be given through a controlled infusion device, but ensures more flexible and safer control of blood pressure. Dihydralazine may produce headache. This side effect occurs very early and is hardly compatible with continuation of treatment. Long term side effects are very uncommon or strictly biological for dosages below 200 mg/day. With currently used dosages (20 to 60 mg per day) minoxidil consistently produces hypertrichosis, outruling its protacted use in women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Antihypertensive vasodilators]. 631 28