ACUTE EFFECTS OF CELIPROLOL ON ANGIOGRAPHICALLY NORMAL AND STENOTIC CORONARY-ARTERIES

Unselective and beta(1)-selective beta-blockers may induce vasoconstri ction of normal and stenotic epicardial coronary arteries. To analyze the influence of the ''vasodilatory'' beta-blocker celiprolol on coron ary vasomotility, 0.4 mg celiprolol/kg were intravenously infused over 4 minutes in 13 patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary angio grams were taken before (control) and at 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 minut es after the onset of infusion and 4 minutes after final sublingual ad ministration of 0.4 mg nitroglycerin. Quantitative analysis of cinefil ms demonstrated no Significant diameter changes in angiographically no rmal coronary segments and stenoses. The vasodilatory capacity of norm al segments (18 +/- 12%; p < 0.001) and stenoses (17 +/- 14%; p < 0.01 ) was proven by nitroglycerin. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, an d pulmonary wedge pressure revealed no significant changes with celipr olol. Thus, celiprolol exerts no vasoconstricting effects on angiograp hically normal and stenotic coronary arteries.