Evaluation of the chronic antianginal effect of molsidomine

The activity of molsidomine, a new antianginal drug, was investigated in 33 patients treated for 3 months with doses of 2 mg, three or four times daily. Exertional angina was present before treatment in 16 patients, spontaneous angina in 5, and mixed angina in twelve. Thirty patients completed the study, and three retired because of side effects. A reduction in the number of attacks of more than 75% in comparison to the pretreatment period was obtained in 20 cases, a diminution between 50% and 75% in 6, and a reduction below 50% in 6. Satisfactory increases in the duration (from 6 minutes 25 seconds to 11 minutes 40 seconds) and maximum load (89.6 to 139.3 W) were obtained in 80% of the cases of effort angina. A dramatic and statistically significant reduction of attacks was observed in the first 48 hours in 8 of 11 patients with spontaneous angina. Side effects were predominantly gastrointestinal and caused the interruption of treatment in 10% of the cases. Molsidomine seems to be a very promising drug for the treatment of effort and spontaneous angina.