[Methodological aspects of using the exercise test during clinico-pharmacological trials of anti-angina preparations]

Studies of physical stress tolerance in 37 patients with angina of effort subjected to repeated bicycle ergometry demonstrated a systematic increment in physical stress tolerance that included an adaptation stage (first 2 or 3 exercise sessions) and a slow-training stage that followed. The adaptation stage was characterized by a significant increase in the duration of the effort and the output. The training stage was represented by a moderate tolerance increment that never exceeded the range of accidental tolerance variation from one exercise period to another. It is suggested that the results of exercise tests conducted before adaptation is achieved cannot be used as control values in pharmacologic studies of anti-anginal effects, while the practicability of taking into consideration the training factor should be examined in each individual case.