Z Kardiol 1986;75 Suppl 3:100-105

Equal anti-ischemic properties of isosorbide dinitrate plus verapamil and isosorbide dinitrate plus propranolol. A randomized, double-blind and crossover study.

Silber S, Vogler A, Theisen K

Although nitrates are the basic treatment for patients with ischemic heart disease and numerous clinical studies have compared the anti-ischemic effects of different combinations with beta-blockers and/or calcium antagonists, no study is known on a controlled intraindividual comparison of the combination nitrate plus beta-blocker with the combination nitrate plus a heart rate-decreasing calcium-antagonist. Therefore we performed a randomized, double-blind and crossover study to compare the effects of 80 mg isosorbide dinitrate in slow-release form (ISDN, once-daily) plus 120 mg verapamil (t.i.d.) with those of 80 mg ISDN plus 80 mg propranolol (b.i.d.). After these two phases of 3 weeks' duration respectively, patients received the combination of all three drugs with the same dosages in a single-blind manner. In addition to the standard inclusion criteria, a pathological exercise-ECG even after ISDN was required as well as a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of greater than or equal to 35%. This protocol could be completed in 26 of the 30 enrolled patients. The combination ISDN plus verapamil proved to exert the same anti-ischemic effects as the combination ISDN plus propranolol. The triple therapy showed a further improvement of exercise induced ischemia without deterioration of the EF at rest or during exercise. Even though only this triple therapy led to an optimal anti-ischemic result in about one third of the patients, it should be initiated cautiously, since symptomatic bradycardia may occur.

Publication Types:

• Clinical trial
• Randomized controlled trial

PMID: 3541414, UI: 87095958