Nitroglycerin ointment effective for seven hours in severe angina pectoris

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Severe angina pectoris poses significant challenges for patient management.
• Nitroglycerin is a well-established vasodilator for managing ischemic heart conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of nitroglycerin (NTG) ointment in male patients with severe angina pectoris.
• To assess the impact of NTG ointment on exercise capacity and ECG parameters.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, cross-over study involving 80 male patients with severe angina pectoris.
• Patients underwent symptom-limited exercise tests after application of 15 mg NTG ointment or placebo ointment.
• Four patient groups were utilized, with tests conducted on successive days.

Main Results:

• Nitroglycerin ointment significantly increased total work performed by 46-70% compared to placebo (p < 0.001) for up to 7 hours.
• ST segment depression on ECG was less pronounced with NTG, significantly so in the 3-hour group (p < 0.01).
• Adverse effects included headache (35%) and dizziness (16%), with 10% finding headache severe enough to discontinue use.

Conclusions:

• Nitroglycerin ointment demonstrates significant efficacy in improving exercise tolerance for severe angina pectoris.
• The ointment offers a long duration of action and is generally well-tolerated.
• NTG ointment represents a viable therapeutic option for managing severe angina pectoris.