[Antianginal and antiadrenergic therapy in acute coronary syndrome]

In recent years cardiology has opened new chapters in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The acute therapeutic procedures include antianginal, anticoagulant and revascularization therapy. Optimal therapeutic procedure in ACS has two objectives: 1) quick removal of the factors causing ischemia, and 2) prevention of death or myocardial infarction, i.e. reinfarction. Nitrates have been present in pharmacotherapy for more than 150 years. They are used exclusively to efficiently suppress the symptoms, but there is no proof of their positive effect on the disease prognosis. The effect of nitrates is manifested as vasodilatation in the arterial, and particularly in the venous vascular basin (central and peripheral effects) thus increasing the capacity of venous blood. Besides the peripheral effect, nitrates have an important central effect, i.e. they dilate epicardial coronary arteries, both the healthy ones and those damaged by atherosclerosis, in this way increasing the collateral blood circulation. Organic nitrates, although the oldest antianginal drug, play one of the leading roels in the treatment of ACS even today. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents have been used since 1960 in the treatment of arterial hypertension, coronary disease and cardiac arrhythmias, and later their efficacy in the prevention of secondary myocardial infarction was noted. Beta blockers (BB) reduce heart rate, systemic blood pressure and myocardial oxygen requirements, reduce myocardial contractility, thus alleviating precordial pain in ACS, decreasing the rate of threatening infarction, and reducing ventricular arrhythmias. Numerous clinical studies have shown that BB in ACS improve the disease prognosis and play an important role in long-term secondary prevention after myocardial infarction. Antagonists of calcium channel blockers are a group of therapeutic agents successfully used in numerous cardiac and noncardiac indications. Potential benefits of calcium antagonists in ACS are the result of various combinations, such as dilation of coronary arteries and arterioles, reduction of heart rate and myocardial oxygen requirements, and beneficial effect on left ventricular function and elasticity. The use of calcium channel blockers in ACS reduces or prevents the symptoms and accompanying ischemia, but there is no evidence that these agents prolong survival in patients with heart failure. In recent years the treatment of an ACS has significantly changed owing to better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease as well as progress in medicinal and interventional treatment. Antianginal therapy, which includes nitrates analgesics, calcium channel blockers and antiadrenergic therapy using beta-blockers in treatment of ACS, takes a significant place.