Intravenous Ranitidine Has No Hemodynamic Effects in Subjects With Normal Lung Function and Patients With Chronic Obstructive AIrway Disease

Ten patients with Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COAD) and five subjects with duodenal ulcers and normal lung function were given 50 mg ranitidine as a single intravenous bolus injection. Hemodynamic responses were continuously monitored. There were no significant alterations in systemic and pulmonary pressures, systemic and total pulmonary vascular resistances or cardiac output. Continuous ECG recordings did not reveal arrhythmias. Ranitidine does not appear to cause any significant disturbance of hemodynamic function in COAD patients. This contrasts with alterations in hemodynamics previously observed following administration of cimetidine.