Haemodynamic and tolerance studies in man of a new, orally active, selectiveβ ₁-adrenoceptor agonist H 80/62

Summary

The selective β₁-adrenoceptor agonist H 80/62 was administered intravenously and orally to healthy subjects and its effects on systolic time intervals, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were studied. Side-effects were noted too, and continuous ECG-recordings were made in order to study its arrhythmogenic effect. After i.v. administration of H 80/62 20 µg/kg body weight there was shortening of total electromechanical systole, the pre-ejection period and of the left ventricular ejection time, systolic blood pressure tended to increase, and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were essentially unchanged. When administered orally as a sustained-release preparation in doses between 20 and 40 mg the haemodynamic effects were qualitatively the same as after i.v. administration, but in some studies there was a slight increase in heart rate. During exercise the systolic blood pressure and heart rate were identical after H 80/62 and placebo. The effect of the drug was maximal immediately after cessation of the i.v. infusion and basal values were regained within 60 min. After oral administration of a sustained-release formulation the effect was maximal after one hour and persisted for at least five to seven hours. The drug was well tolerated on repeated administration. The incidence of ventricular extrasystoles was possibly increased in one subject out of eight (11 ventricular extrasystoles during 18 h). The results of this Phase I study of H 80/62 warrant further evaluation of the drug in man.