[Anti-angina therapy of coronary heart disease. Mono- or combination treatment]

Applying a metaanalysis, it was examined whether a combination of drugs is superior to monotherapy in the treatment of angina pectoris. The three classical groups of anti-anginal drugs, nitrates, calcium channel blockers and beta-receptor blockers were investigated. For data analysis, patients were divided in those suffering from "angina pectoris" and those suffering from "angina pectoris despite monotherapy." In patients with the inclusion criterium "angina pectoris" combination of drugs is not superior to monotherapy. This applies to the evaluation criteria "improvement of symptoms" and "reduction of ischemia". In patients with the inclusion criterium "angina pectoris despite monotherapy" however, there is a clear superiority of drug combination as compared to monotherapy. Again this applies to the evaluation criteria "improvement of symptoms" and "reduction in myocardial ischemia". With respect to antianginal efficacy all three possible combinations appear to be similar. If the evaluation criterium is "improvement of prognosis" no data are available with regard to drug combination. Furthermore no data are available on the prognostic effect of an anti-anginal therapy in patients with stable angina pectoris. A significant improvement of prognosis could be demonstrated for beta-receptor blocking agents without ISA in unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and in the postinfarction period. The effect of calcium channel blockers on prognosis depends on the substance class applied and on the presence or absence of signs of congestive heart failure. Monotherapy with nifedipine in instable angina and acute myocardial infarction fails to improve prognosis, and there even may be a tendency to adverse effects. In the absence of signs of congestive heart failure verapamil has been demonstrated to improve prognosis in the post infarction period. Likewise, improvement of prognosis by the administration of diltiazem in acute myocardial infarction only could be demonstrated in patients without signs of heart failure. In contrast, in patients with signs of congestive heart failure diltiazem increased the rate of reinfarction and mortality. For nitrates only in acute myocardial infarction a trend towards improved prognosis has been shown. Especially for nitrates the data on prognosis in coronary heart disease available so far are not convincing.