The antianginal effect of three drugs (isosorbide dinitrate-nifedipine-oxprenolol) and of two drug associations (isosorbide dinitrate-oxprenolol; nifedipine-oxprenolol) was studied in six patients, by means of a bicycle ergometer exercise test. The study was double blind; placebo was also included in the test. Treatments were administered according to the sequence of a 6 X 6 "balanced" latin-square design. After treatment with isosorbide dinitrate and nifedipine a significant delay in the appearance of angina and of signs of electrocardiographic positivity was observed while after treatment with oxprenolol a significant delay was noticed only in the time of appearance of electrocardiographic positivity. On the contrary, placebo did not determine significant changes in the studied parameters. The best results were achieved with the associations oxprenolol-isosorbide dinitrate and oxprenolol-nifedipine. With these treatments, angina appeared during the exercise test in only two patients while the others had to stop the test because of muscular exhaustion; electrocardiographic signs of ischemia did not appear in one patient. The favourable results of the associations oxprenolol-isosorbide dinitrate and oxprenolol-nifedipine can be explained by the pharmacologic effect of these drugs and by their complementary action.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

[Oxprenolol in the treatment and prevention of cardiac arrhythmias].

Authors have analyzed the antiarrhythmic effect of oxprenolol, a beta blocking agent, in the treatment of various types of arrhythmias and in the prophylaxis of recurrences of auricular flutter and fibrillation. The results obtained in a group of 68 cases of different arrhythmias may be summarized in the following way: a) the drug efficiently reduces the ventricular rate in sinus tachycardia and in atrial flutter and fibrillation with high ventricular rate, even if resistant to treatment with digitalis; b) in patients with asynchronous pacemaker oxprenolol leads to disappearance or an important reduction of competitive rhythms; c) in supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardias the results are positive in the majority of cases (while on the contrary in 2 cases of ventricular tachycardias the drug was not effective). A group of 116 cases with auricular flutter or fibrillation (in which sinus rhythm had been restored with quinidine or cardioversion has been analyzed to study the prophylactic activity of oxprenolol in these arrhythmias. The cases have been divided at random into two groups and have been treated with quinidine (g 0.80 p.d.) or with an association of oxprenolol (mg 60 p.d.) and quinidine (g 0,60 p.d.). The observation period varied from a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 3 years and 3 months. The curves showing the percentage of persistance of sinus rhythm in the two groups were very similar and after 3 years and 3 months 100% of patients observed presented a recurrence of arrhythmias.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

[Self-measurement of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. A psychological study (author's transl)].

Risks and complications of arterial hypertension can be reduced by an active and prolonged treatment. However, only a small number of hypertensive subjects is treated effectively. The co-operation of patients in the management of the disease may be useful in the treatment of hypertension. The authors report the results of a study of thirty hypertensive patients chosen at random, who checked their arterial pressure by themselves. The psychological reactions, the advantages and disadvantages of this experience and the attitude of the attending physicians were analyzed. The majority of the patients had no difficulty in the self-measurement of blood pressure and succeeded in reaching and maintaining the values of blood pressure within satisfactory levels, getting favourable psychological effects as well. Six patients (out of the ten who were indifferent or contrary to this practice) went on measuring the arteria pressure, giving in this way a contribution to a better management of the disease. The attitude of the attending physicians was on the whole indifferent or negative towards this experience.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

PubMed1974