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Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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  • peripheral arteriolar vasodilatation - leads to a reduction in peripheral resistance and hence a reduction in blood pressure
  • peripheral venous dilatation - leads to peripheral venous pooling and hence a reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and reduction in resistance to coronary blood flow during diastole
  • vasodilatory effects may cause redistribution of blood flow to areas of myocardial ischaemia. This mechanism is important when angina is a result of coronary artery spasm (Prinzmetal's angina)

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