Abstract
The haemodynamic effects of labetalol infusion (mean dose 1 mg/min) were measured in seven patients with sustained hypertension complicating acute myocardial infarction. Four of the patients had severe left ventricular failure. A fall in both systolic (mean 185 to 126 mm Hg) and diastolic (mean 87 to 68 mm Hg) blood pressure occurred in all patients. Cardiac index fell from 2.5 to 2.0 l/min/m2; systemic vascular resistance was not affected. Heart rate slowed from 83 to 70 beats/ min. Labetalol lowered pulmonary artery pressure in the patients with left ventricular failure. Labetalol is an effective antihypertensive agent in patients with acute myocardial infarction and our results suggest it is safe provided cardiac output is within or near the normal range. It seems not to be contraindicated in the presence of pulmonary oedema. The effects imply that myocardial oxygen requirements will be reduced. The implications for limitation of infarct size in patients presenting early after acute infarction should be determined.
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