Effect of phentolamine on peripheral venous distensibility in congestive heart failure

摘要

Seven patients with congestive heart failure received an infusion of phentolamine, 5 mg per hour for one hour, and seven others, considered as controls, received an infusion of dextrose. The small dose of phentolamine produced a minimal increase in pulse rate, and no significant change in arterial blood pressure and forearm blood flow. Venous distensibility was measured in the forearm by occlusion plethysmography. It was significantly increased by phentolamine, the rise in venous volume being 20–30 greater than in controls for the same ‘effective venous pressu