[Unstable angina pectoris: results of repeated ergometrine tests]

Ergometrine (ergonovine) tests were performed in patients with unstable angina on the 1st day of hospitalization, on 2nd--3rd days during which patients received only nitroglycerin sublingually for acute pain relief (33 observations), and after "stabilization" of their condition by calcium antagonists or/and beta-blockers (34 observations). Reactions to ergometrine were classified as spastic when pain was accompanied by ST segment elevations of T wave changes and as nonspecific when intravenous ergometrine resulted in ST segment depression and/or anginal attack. Spastic reactions to ergometrine observed in the acute period as a rule disappeared with "stabilization" of patients condition. Spontaneous rapid disappearance of spastic reactions was noted in 4 of 15 patients. Spastic reactions also disappeared in 13 of 17 patients while they were on active antianginal therapy. Disappearance of spastic reactions was observed more frequently in patients treated with calcium antagonists than with beta-blockers. Nonspecific reactions never disappeared spontaneously. Persisting despite therapy any positive reaction to ergometrine was prognostically unfavorable.