Dipyridamole in the treatment of angina pectoris: a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials published between 1960 and 1970 was performed to re-evaluate data on the efficacy of dipyridamole in the prevention and treatment of chronic angina pectoris. Three trials significantly favored drug vs placebo, four showed a trend towards drug vs placebo, two showed no difference and two showed a trend towards placebo vs drug. The combined results of these 11 trials showed a statistically significant improvement with dipyridamole. Although this result should be viewed with caution because of methodologic variations in the studies, the available evidence appears to suggest that dipyridamole may have a beneficial effect, and that it may have been prematurely discarded in the treatment of angina pectoris.