Effect of diazoxide on left ventricular performance in hypertension.

The effect of diazoxide on left ventricular performance during rest and isometric exercise (handgrip) was examined in 16 unselected hypertensive patients, 6 of whom had been pretreated with the beta-adrenergic blocking agent pindolol. Diazoxide regularly and promptly produced a fall in left ventricular systolic and end diastolic pressures, and an increase in heart rate and left ventricular dp/dtmax. Haemodynamic changes were maximal 2 minutes after injection of the drug and decreased little over the next 8 minutes. After beta-adrenergic blockade, diazoxide caused a more pronounced reduction in left ventricular systolic pressure and a less marked fall in end-diastolic pressure, whilst the di…