[Cardiovascular changes caused by nicotinic acid (author's transl)].

The effect of i. v. administered nicotinic acid was examined in 23 patients. Before the patients had undergone an AFB-operation. 11 cardiovascular parameters were quantitatively examined, calculated and statistically controlled. The authors observed a short but clear decrease of pressure and resistance in the arterial system after the injections of nicotinic acid. The aim of increasing the blood supply to poststenotic regions can however not be attained in this way. The decrease can rather lead to a lack of the blood supply of these regions. The authors could verify that the vascular effect of nicotinic acid is not caused by adrenergic blockade. We are of the same opinion as other authors who maintain that nicotinic acid could be used in the therapy of the "shock lung". It is said that nicotinic acid as a fibrinolytic substance might counteract the Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and that it could counteract the danger of oedema in the pulmonary system by decreasing pressure and resistance for a short time.