Effects of oral diltiazem on left ventricular function in patients with coronary disease

The changes of left ventricular function were studied non-invasively with nuclear detector before,2 and 4 wk after treatment with oral diltiazem 90 mg daily in 10 patients of coronary disease. After diltiazem, CI and LVEF were decreased (p<0.05), PFR was ubcreased and F was inclined to increase, while there was no change in R-R. The decrements of LVEF during handgrip test before, 2 and 4 wk after treatment were respectively 0.09, 0.05, and 0.01,from which significant difference was shown between before and 4 wk after treatment (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that diltiazem improves the left ventricular function, mainly the diastolic function and the effort tolerance.