JAW Vol. 17. No. 2 February 1991:221A

LARGE PERICARDIAL EFFUSION!3 ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUIRED IMHUNE DEFICIENCY S ROl'fE (AIDS)

p Msrvin Berger, Susan Hechtp Antonia Kolokathis, Steven F. Horowitz Beth Israel Medical Cencerp Mew Ycwk, New York

TJRBB263. %ris. France.

i

on is a compensabry decreaseinaslerial compliance.

ism to prevent further

FTERLQ ITH SYSTE Roberto Lanq, Donna Ehler, Barbara Valentine, Alex Neumann, Lynn Weinert, Jim Bednarz. Kenneth Borow, University of Chicago, IL

Drug induced changes in aortic compliance (AC) and LW aft&-load (oes) may have major impact on the treatment of patients with systemic hypertension. Accordingly, we sought to determine the differential effects of B- blockers (BB) ws calciium antagonists (CA) on Ao comoliance and LW afterload. -Twelve Patients with systemFc 8TN were studied before and hfter IV esmolol and after 1 week treatment with an dihydropyridine. Data subc

were acquired using Ao Doppler, &libr&zed lavian pulse tracinqs and 2D targeted echo

(long and short axis). -Instantaneous Ao pressure, flow and LW dimensions were digitized to obtain (I) Ao compliance (AC, calculated using the area method); (2) circumferential end-systolic wall stress (oes, a measure of LW afterload); (3).cardiac inder ;C;, from Doppler tracings and Ao root measurement) and (4) Total vascular resistance (TWR). *p<.O5 vs Control

MAP AC 0es 202251 204227 144+6* c.01

$:R 3.120.7 2.5?0.4* 3.8zO.8” c.01

1826+488 2120t577+ 1268?337+ c.01 Despite antihypertensive effects of both 88 and CA, only CA significantly improved LW afterload (i.e., oes) and external vascular load (i.eel aortic compliance). This noninwasive approach enables characterization of the differentia 1 effects of antihypertensive therapy on the properties of the aorta and left wentrfcle.