Haemodynamic and clinical effects of isosorbide-dinitrate in patients with severe effort angina on beta-blocking treatment

The effect of isosorbide-dinitrate (ISDN) 20 mg 4 times daily against placebo has been tested in 12 patients with stable effort induced angina pectoris receiving prophylactic treatment with metoprolol. ISDN did not decrease the attack rate or nitroglycerine consumption, nor was exercise tolerance increased after it. Left ventricular function, assessed by radionuclide ventriculography, increased in 6 out of 8 patients (p less than 0.1). It is concluded that ISDN has no place in the treatment of haemodynamically intact patients with severe angina pectoris in spite of beta-blocking treatment, but that it may be of value in the treatment of patients with left ventricular failure, including those whose left ventricular failure has been brought about by beta-blocking treatment necessitated by angina pectoris.