[Short-term and long-term therapy with slow-release ISDN. Echographic, vector cardiographic and ergometric findings...

The effect of slow-release isosorbide dinitrate (Maycor retard) on the myocard was investigated in a short-term study (single dose of 20 mg slow-release ISDN) and in a long-term study (2 X 20 mg slow-release ISDN daily) in 10 patients with coronary heart disease. The parameters assessed were heart rate, blood pressure and skin temperature at rest, load ECG, orthogonal ECG and VCG by computer and UCG echocardiography. The reductions of diastolic and systolic ventricular diameter are statistically significant in the short-term and long-term trials. The ejection time decreases. The velocity of circumferential fiber shortening as a measure of myocardial contractility increases highly significantly. R peak and T wave amplitude in the Y lead change significantly. These findings can be interpreted as an expression of improved myocardial tension and a normalization of the contraction and relaxation.