Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
06:13

The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Published on: February 5, 2021

Ivabradine: a selective If current inhibitor in the treatment of stable angina

George Andrikopoulos1, Chryssanthi Dasopoulou, Dimitris Sakellariou

  • 1First Department of Cardiology, Evagelismos General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece. gkandrik@otenet.gr

Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery
|January 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Ivabradine offers an effective and safe way to manage heart rate for myocardial ischemia and chronic stable angina. This If current inhibitor provides anti-anginal benefits comparable to other drugs but with better tolerability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Therapeutics
  • Pharmacology
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Heart rate reduction is crucial for managing myocardial ischemia and chronic stable angina.
  • Current rate-slowing drugs have limited use due to poor tolerability.
  • Ivabradine selectively inhibits sinoatrial node If currents, controlling heart rate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ivabradine in cardiovascular therapeutics.
  • To compare ivabradine's anti-anginal and anti-ischemic effects with existing treatments.
  • To explore the potential of ivabradine beyond stable angina management.

Main Methods:

  • Ivabradine, a selective If current inhibitor (S 16257), was studied.
  • Clinical studies assessed its anti-anginal and anti-ischemic effects.
  • Adverse reaction profiles were compared to other If inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Ivabradine demonstrated anti-anginal and anti-ischemic effects equivalent to atenolol and amlodipine.
  • It exhibits a more favorable adverse reaction profile than other If inhibitors.
  • Clinical development for stable angina is complete, proving its efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Ivabradine is a promising and safe option for heart rate management in cardiovascular therapeutics.
  • Its efficacy in stable angina suggests potential for broader applications.
  • Ivabradine represents a significant advancement in treating myocardial ischemia and related conditions.

More Related Videos

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function10:28

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function

Published on: March 15, 2022

Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation11:21

Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: May 29, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine01:25

Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine

Angina pectoris, a primary symptom of ischemic heart disease, requires careful pharmacological interventions. In this context, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and ranolazine have emerged as crucial pharmacotherapeutic agents, providing deep insights into the complexities of angina management.
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...
Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers01:31

Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers

Third-generation β-blockers, such as labetalol and carvedilol, represent a significant advancement in managing cardiovascular conditions. Unlike conventional β-blockers, which can induce peripheral vasoconstriction, third-generation drugs block α1 adrenoceptors. This promotes vasodilation through several mechanisms, such as increased nitric oxide production, inhibition of calcium ion entry, opening of potassium ion channels, and antioxidant action. Labetalol, for instance, is clinically...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...