[Gallopamil and molsidomine in patients with coronary heart disease. A comparative study]

In a randomised, crossover trial, 20 patients with electrocardiographically proven coronary heart disease and exercise-inducible angina pectoris, the antiischemic effect of gallopamil (3 x 50 mg) and molsidomine (2 x 2 mg) were studied. Both therapies showed a clear anti-ischemic effect in bicycle exercise tests. The average ST-segment depression at maximal comparable workload was reduced from 0.16 mV (without medication) to 0.06 mV with gallopamil and 0.09 mV with molsidomine, the difference between the two therapies was significant (p less than or equal to 0.05). The increase in the heart rate, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure during exercise, were less marked with both therapies. The correlation between rate-pressure product and average ST-segment depression showed a better reduction in ST-segment depression at comparable myocardial O2-consumption for gallopamil in comparison with molsidomine. It is concluded that gallopamil improves myocardial perfusion and microcirculation in ischemic areas more than molsidomine.