[Non-invasive assessment of the efficacy of long-term vasodilator therapy of cardiac decompensation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].
In 18 patients (14 men, 4 women, in the age of 37-52 years, mean = 43 years) with dilated cardiomyopathy allocated into NYHA functional classification groups III-IV, the efficacy of ambulatory long term (mean = 6 years) vasodilator therapy by means of non-invasive methods was evaluated. NITRO-MACK retard (venodilator) in the dosage of 20 mg per day and DIHYDRALAZIN (arteriodilator) in the dosage of 100-200 mg per day were combined simultaneously with continuous administration of cardiotonics and diuretics. Vasodilator therapy had a favourable effect on systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle with the mostly marked effect at the beginning of treatment. Amidst non-invasive parameters, the diastolic amplitude time index and left ventricular hypertrophy-dilatation index had the greatest prognostic value regarding the treatment efficacy and survival of patients. This objective evidence of the efficacy of vasodilator therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy coincided with the improvement of clinical status, subjective relief, moderation of decompensation, and thus with the improvement of life quality. (Fig. 1, Tab. 4, Ref. 24.).