[Evaluation of antianginal effectiveness of nicardipine in patients with angina pectoris]

The new calcium antagonist nicardipine was studied for its potency in 73 patients with coronary heart disease concurrent with angina pectoris, including 16 with vasospastic angina. Nicardipine given in a mean daily dose of 70.1 +/- 12.4 mg induced an increase in exercise test duration by 1-2 min in 71.9% of the patients as compared with placebo. The agent was slightly less potent than nifedipine. In vasospastic angina, nicardipine was effective in 81.3% of the patients.