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U Thadani

Publications and source records attributed to U Thadani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ricin disturbs calcium homeostasis in the rabbit heart.

Ricin, a toxic lectin from the castor bean, affects the cardiovascular system. Because calcium is very important in cardiotoxicity and cell intoxication, we studied the effects of ricin pretreatment to rabbits on basal intracellular calcium levels and calcium uptake and release from isolated papillary muscle, microsomes, and mitochondria. An increase in basal intracellular calcium levels was observed. Ricin pretreatment nearly doubled the intracellular-free Ca2+ concentration as measured by fura-2 fluorescence microscopy in isolated myocytes (p = 0.002). Ricin did not alter basal calcium efflux in isolated papillary muscles. However, ricin inhibited the NE-induced calcium efflux (expressed as fractional efflux ratios) in papillary muscles from rabbits receiving the minimum lethal dose of ricin at 25-35 minutes (p = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). Ricin depressed basal calcium uptake into isolated papillary muscles at 5 minutes (mean +/- SEM, mumol/g wet weight) (control: 3.68 +/- 0.57; ricin: 2.31 +/- 0.28, p = 0.045, n = 6). Ricin pretreatment significantly depressed calcium uptake into microsomes (mean +/- SEM, mumol/g protein) (control: 9.9 +/- 1.9; ricin: 3.1 +/- 1.9, p = 0.025, n = 6). Calcium uptake into mitochondria was increased at the beginning (2 minutes, p = 0.048), but not thereafter. Thus, administration of ricin disturbed calcium homeostasis in the rabbit heart, which may be at least partially responsible for altering cardiac function and myocardial cell death.

Animals↗

Amlodipine in chronic stable angina: results of a multicenter double-blind crossover trial.

The efficacy and safety of amlodipine, 10 mg, a new long-acting calcium antagonist, was compared with placebo in 103 patients with stable angina pectoris in a multicenter double-blind crossover study. The trial consisted of an initial 2-week single-blind placebo period followed by a first period of 4 weeks of double-blind therapy, which was followed by a 1 week washout period and then a second 4-week double-blind period after treatments were crossed over. Twenty-four-hour Holter electrocardiographic monitoring was carried out in 12 patients at three centers. In the first double-blind period amlodipine produced a significantly greater increase in symptom-limited exercise duration (amlodipine 478.5 to 520.6 vs placebo 484.6 to 485.2 seconds; change +8.8% vs +0.1%, respectively; p = 0.0004) and total work (amldipine 2426 to 2984 vs placebo 2505 to 2548 kilopondmeters; change +24% vs +1.7%, respectively; p = 0.0006) and a decrease in angina attack frequency (from 3 to 1 per week; p = 0.016) and nitroglycerin consumption (from 2 to 0.5 tablets/wk; p = 0.01) compared with placebo. Holter monitoring revealed significant reductions in numbers (amlodipine 4.65 to 2.22 vs placebo 1.84 to 1.54; change -52% vs +84%, respectively; p = 0.06), absolute total area (amlodipine 87.66 to 11.43 vs placebo 5.76 to 35.24; change -87% vs +513%, respectively; p = 0.02), and duration (amlodipine 12.29 to 2.95 vs 1.66 to 7.74 seconds; change -76% vs +367%, respectively; p = 0.008) of ST-segment depressions after treatment with amlodipine compared with placebo. After the treatments were crossed over changes continued to favor amlodipine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Chronic stable angina pectoris. Strategies for effective drug therapy.

In most patients with stable angina pectoris, severe eccentric atherosclerotic narrowing of coronary arteries is responsible for chest pain and myocardial ischemia. If myocardial infarction or death occurs, it is usually the consequence of a ruptured plaque. About 10% to 20% of patients with stable angina have normal coronary arteries, and their long-term prognosis is excellent. In patients with angina secondary to atherosclerotic lesions, the annual mortality rate is 1.6% to 3.2%; prognosis is determined by systolic left ventricular function and the extent of coronary artery disease. Patients can be stratified into low- and high-risk groups by medical history, left ventricular function at rest, and results of physical examination and stress testing. Coronary angiography should be reserved for high-risk patients. Risk-factor modification and appropriate use of antianginal drugs are successful in most patients, but those who fail to respond should be considered for angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery; patients with left main coronary artery disease or three-vessel disease and poor left ventricular function should be considered for coronary artery bypass surgery.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Dose-response evaluation of once-daily therapy with a new formulation of diltiazem for stable angina pectoris. Diltiazem CD Study Group.

Diltiazem hydrochloride in a once-daily capsule formulation (DCD) has recently been approved in the United States for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and chronic stable angina pectoris. This trial evaluated the dose response of DCD in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-design trial, the effects and tolerability of once-daily therapy with placebo or DCD (60, 120, 240, 360, or 480 mg) were evaluated 24 hours after dosing, following 3 weeks of therapy in 227 patients with reproducible stable exertional angina pectoris. A significant linear dose trend (p = 0.004) was present across the 6 treatment groups for the primary end point--time to exercise termination at 24 hours after dosing--using a standard Bruce treadmill exercise test. A significant linear dose trend was also seen for time to 1 mm ST-segment depression at 24 hours after dosing. Similar effects on exercise parameters were also seen at 4 hours after dosing. A linear dose trend (p = 0.04) was noted relative to the overall anginal attacks during daily activities and for anginal attacks during exercise (p = 0.02). Overall frequency of treatment-related adverse effects was dose-related and occurred in 24.4% and 17.5% of patients treated with DCD and placebo, respectively. At a dose up to 240 mg/day, improvement in exercise tolerance was achieved without an associated increase in the rate of treatment-related adverse events compared with placebo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Lack of pharmacologic tolerance and rebound angina pectoris during twice-daily therapy with isosorbide-5-mononitrate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN), an active metabolite of isosorbide dinitrate, when given twice daily (in the morning and 7 hours later), prevents development of tolerance and reduction in exercise performance or is associated with a rebound increase in anginal attacks in patients with stable angina pectoris. DESIGN: Multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized study. SETTING: Four university teaching hospitals and five private cardiology outpatient clinics. PATIENTS: 116 patients with stable exertional angina who stopped treadmill exercise because of angina pectoris. INTERVENTION: After stopping all antianginal drugs with the exception of beta-blockers, patients received single-blind placebo for 1 week followed by either 20 mg of IS-5-MN (n = 60 patients) or placebo (n = 62 patients) twice daily at 0800 hours and 1500 hours for 2 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Serial symptom-limited exercise tests and patients' diaries recording activity and date, time, and severity of anginal attacks. RESULTS: Compared with placebo recipients, patients receiving IS-5-MN walked significantly longer at 2, 5, and 7 hours after the 0800-hour dose (P < 0.01) and at 2 and 5 hours after the 1500-hour dose (P < 0.01). Before the morning (0800-hour) dose, exercise duration increased by 0.53 minutes in placebo recipients and by 0.85 minutes in those receiving IS-5-MN therapy (P = 0.10). Neither nocturnal nor early-morning anginal attacks increased during IS-5-MN therapy compared with placebo. Headaches occurred in 19 (32%) patients in the IS-5-MN group and in 9 (15%) patients in the placebo group but necessitated discontinuation of treatment in only 2 (3%) patients in the IS-5-MN group. CONCLUSION: Isosorbide-5-mononitrate, 20 mg twice daily given 7 hours apart, was well tolerated and improved exercise performance for 7 hours after the morning dose and for 5 hours after the afternoon dose without evidence of development of pharmacologic tolerance. No rebound increase in anginal attacks was found.

Adult↗

Conversion from immediate-release to extended-release diltiazem in angina pectoris.

This multicenter, open-label, single crossover study examined 195 patients taking an immediate-release diltiazem tablet as chronic stable angina therapy to determine if apparently logical methods of converting them to an extended-release, once-daily formulation were effective. Patients were converted from the immediate-release (Phase I) to an extended-release (Phase II) formulation of diltiazem on a mg-for-mg basis or, when a similar dose was not available, to the next higher 120 mg dose. Weekly angina occurrences and nitroglycerin use, exercise testing at the end of each phase, and ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AEM) during the week prior to the exercise study were evaluated. There was a statistically significant decrease in angina frequency and nitroglycerin consumption during Phase II. In the exercise studies, there was an insignificant increase in time to 1 mm ST-segment depression and total exercise time associated with a statistically significantly lower end-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in Phase II. In those patients who had ischemia during either phase on AEM, total ischemic duration and ischemic episodes were insignificantly lower in Phase II. All observations were similar in the subgroup of patients who were converted mg-for-mg. Adverse reactions were equal. Thus, in converting patients from an immediate- to an extended-release diltiazem formulation for the treatment of symptomatic coronary artery disease, it is reasonable to convert directly to the same or, if not available, the next higher available dose of the extended-release preparation.

Aged↗

Nitrates for unstable angina.

The term unstable angina encompasses heterogeneous clinical syndromes. Fissuring of an atherosclerotic coronary artery plaque with superimposed platelet deposition, with or without additional thrombus formation, is invariably responsible for a prolonged episode of angina at rest, increasing frequency of angina at rest, or with minimal exertion of less than 4 weeks in duration and early postinfarction angina. Plaque progression, rather than plaque fissuring, is the most likely mechanism for progressive reduction in walking distance due to angina in patients who previously have stable angina. Coronary artery spasm is responsible for Prinzmetal's variant angina, but its exact role in other forms of unstable angina is unknown. The mainstay of treatment of unstable angina (prolonged episode of angina at rest and recent onset angina at rest, or with minimal exertion with a crescendo pattern) is aspirin, heparin, or both. Both aspirin and intravenous (i.v.) heparin or their combination reduce early mortality and the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in patients hospitalized with unstable angina. However, these agents do not promptly relieve chest pain. There are no placebo-controlled studies evaluating the usefulness of nitrates in unstable angina. In open-label studies, continuous therapy with i.v. nitroglycerin (NTG) for 24 hours or longer has been shown to relieve chest pain in patients with rest angina refractory to therapy with other antianginal agents, including long-acting nitrates. Recurrence of chest pain in patients receiving i.v. NTG is a common problem and probably represents development of pharmacologic tolerance, but this can be overridden by dose escalation; protracted tolerance during short-term use of i.v. NTG is usually not a problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Duration of effects of isradipine during twice daily therapy in angina pectoris.

Isradipine, a 1,4 dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, is a potent coronary artery dilator that increases coronary blood flow with little effect on cardiac contractility. Isradipine is an approved antihypertensive agent, but its antianginal effects have not been well documented. In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group design study we evaluated the duration of effects and safety of isradipine 10 mg bid in male patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. Seventy-two patients experiencing moderately severe angina between 3 and 7.5 minutes during a standard Bruce exercise test received placebo in a single-blind manner for 8-14 days. Sixty-one of these patients had reproducible treadmill exercise test results on three consecutive occasions and underwent further exercise tests at 3, 8, and 12 hours after a placebo period. Patients were then randomized (double blind) to either placebo or isradipine 10 mg bid for 2 weeks. Symptom-limited exercise tests were repeated predose and at 3, 8, and 12 hours after the 0800 hour dose dosing. Exercise duration increased significantly from baseline (last qualifying test during the single-blind placebo therapy, i.e., 0800 hours predose at visit 4) in the isradipine group compared to the placebo group prior to the administration of the 0800 hour dose (i.e., 12 hours after the 2000 hour dose) by 51 vs. 18 seconds, p = 0.04; and after the administration of the 0800 hour dose at 3 hours by 78 vs. 29 seconds, p = 0.005; and at 8 hours by 54 vs. 18 seconds, p = 0.04. Similarly, statistical significance was achieved when exercise data were analyzed using visit 4 (single-blind placebo therapy) corresponding time points as baseline. At 12 hours after the 0800 hour dose, exercise tolerance did not increase significantly after isradipine compared to placebo. Time to 1-mm ST-segment depression increased significantly after isradipine at 3 hours post 0800 hour dose compared to placebo (87 vs. 7 seconds, p < 0.01) but not at the 0, 8, or 12-hour postdose time points, regardless of which baseline was used. Isradipine therapy did not affect the rate-pressure double product. A significant correlation between the mean increase in total exercise time and mean plasma isradipine concentration was also present (p = 0.0295). During double-blind treatment, drug-related adverse events were experienced by four patients in the isradipine group and two patients in the placebo group. None of the patients experienced ischemic complications during the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Short and long-acting oral nitrates for stable angina pectoris.

Nitroglycerin (NTG) spray and sublingual tablets rapidly relieve an established attack of angina, and their infrequent use is not associated with the development of tolerance. Although, following a suitable nitrate-free interval, the first dose of oral, long-acting nitrates produces significant hemodynamic effects, increases angina free walking, and decreases exercise-induced ischemia, during continued long-term therapy tolerance limits their usefulness. Appropriate dosing regimens of controlled-release formulations of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) and controlled-release NTG during long-term therapy have not been established. Use of immediate-release formulation of 15-120 mg of ISDN in a qid regimen lead to a marked reduction in the size and duration of antianginal effects compared to the initial dose. Asymmetric tid therapy with 30 mg of ISDN (7 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6 p.m.) is also associated with the development of partial tolerance and appears to provide antianginal prophylaxis for only a period of 6 hours each day. Asymmetric bid therapy with ISDN at 7 a.m. and noon may give sustained effect but is supported by only a single, small study that did not examine effectiveness after the noon dose in long-term use. Isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) has been the subject of more recent studies than other nitrates because of attempts to bring a number of products into the U.S. market. IS-5-MN in qid, tid, and standard bid (8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) dosing regimens produce tolerance. Asymmetric regimens of immediate-release IS-5-MN (10 and 20 mg) given bid (once in the morning and again 7 hours later) decrease the development of tolerance compared to symmetric regimens and produce an increased exercise duration after each dose of the day; the 20 mg bid dosing is more effective. Similarly, once-daily 120 and 240 mg controlled-release IS-5-MN does not produce tolerance and gives a sustained increase in daytime exercise duration. Both asymmetric bid immediate-release and once-daily controlled-release IS-5-MN preparations do not produce deterioration in exercise performance prior to the administration of the medication in the morning (i.e., no zero-hour effect). Further studies are needed to establish useful dosing regimens for ISDN, for controlled-release ISDN, and for controlled-release nitroglycerin. None of the dosing regimens of any oral, long-acting nitrate (including IS-5-MN) provide 24 hour antianginal and antiischemic effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Ointments and transdermal nitroglycerin patches for stable angina pectoris.

Nitroglycerin (NTG) ointment is used for the prophylaxis against angina pectoris, but there are no data to support its effectiveness during long-term therapy. Continuous, once-daily application of isosorbide dinitrate cream produces tolerance with complete loss of efficacy within 1 week. Nitroglycerin patches are very popular and continuous once-daily application is still claimed by some investigators to provide 24 hour antiischemic and antianginal efficacy. This claim is based on data from postmarketing studies in a very large number of patients and placebo-controlled studies in smaller groups of patients from Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Germany. In contrast, studies from the United States, Canada, England, and some centers in Germany have failed to show superiority of patches over placebo during continuous therapy. This controversy was addressed by the NTG cooperative study group, in which a total of 562 patients who were responders to sublingual nitroglycerin were studied. Patients received either placebo or NTG patches delivering low (15-30 mg/24 hr), moderate (45-60 mg/24 hr), or large (75 and 105 mg/24 hr) amounts of NTG. Four hours after the initial application, NTG patches increased exercise duration compared to placebo, but this beneficial effect had disappeared by 24 hours. Furthermore, after 8 weeks of continuous therapy, none of the NTG patches were superior to placebo, whether patients were or were not taking concomitant beta-blockers. Therefore, current opinion is that continuous therapy with NTG patches produces pharmacologic tolerance and is ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Double-blind efficacy and safety study of a novel anti-ischemic agent, ranolazine, versus placebo in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. Ranolazine Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Ranolazine modulates the metabolism of ischemic myocardial cells and improves the efficiency of oxygen use. This study was conducted to evaluate the antianginal and anti-ischemic effects and safety of different doses of ranolazine administered three times daily (tid) compared with placebo in patients with stable angina pectoris. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with stable angina pectoris took part in the study. Previous antianginal drugs were discontinued under medical supervision. Three hundred nineteen patients received single-blind placebo for up to 18 days, and 318 stopped exercise because of angina of moderate severity, had evidence of myocardial ischemia (> or = 1-mm ST segment depression), and were randomized to one of four study groups in a double-blind manner: ranolazine 30 mg tid (n = 81), ranolazine 60 mg tid (n = 81), ranolazine 120 mg tid (n = 78), and placebo tid (n = 79). After the 4-week double-blind phase, symptom-limited exercise tests were repeated at 1 hour (peak test) and 8 hours (trough test) after the study medication was administered. In addition, patients kept an angina diary throughout the study and wore a Holter monitor for 48 hours. Total exercise duration at baseline (+/- SEM) was 5.9 +/- 0.2 minutes for the placebo group and 6.4 +/- 0.3, 5.9 +/- 0.3, and 6.6 +/- 0.2 minutes for the ranolazine 30-, 60-, and 120-mg groups, respectively (P = NS). After 4 weeks of double-blind therapy, compared with baseline values, at 1 hour after the study medication was administered (peak effect), total exercise duration (+/- SEM) increased by 0.45 +/- 0.2 minutes in the placebo group and by 0.3 +/- 0.2, 0.6 +/- 0.2, and 0.5 +/- 0.2 minutes in the ranolazine 30-, 60-, and 120-mg groups, respectively (placebo versus ranolazine, P = NS). Times to 1-mm ST segment depression at baseline were similar in the four groups and, after 4 weeks of therapy in each group, increased significantly by similar magnitudes at 1 hour after the administration of the medications. Similar changes were seen for the time to onset of angina. Eight hours after administration (trough effect), no differences in total exercise time or any other exercise variables were observed between the placebo and the ranolazine groups. Compared with the baseline values, the number of anginal attacks per week and the number and duration of ischemic episodes per 48 hours during Holter monitoring decreased significantly by similar magnitudes in the placebo and ranolazine groups. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with ranolazine 30, 60, and 120 mg tid was not superior to placebo. Our study does not support the published beneficial effects of similar doses of ranolazine on either myocardial ischemia or exercise performance or on anginal attacks during daily life in patients with angina pectoris.

Acetanilides↗

Effects of treatment on outcome in mildly symptomatic patients with ischemia during daily life. The Atenolol Silent Ischemia Study (ASIST)

BACKGROUND: Detection of asymptomatic ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease has been associated with increased risk for adverse outcome, but treatment of patients with asymptomatic ischemia remains controversial. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine if treatment reduces adverse outcome in patients with daily life ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic outpatients with daily life silent ischemia due to coronary artery disease was conducted. The primary outcome measure was event-free survival at 1 year by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Events were death, resuscitated ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, aggravation of angina, or revascularization. The secondary outcome was ischemia during ambulatory ECG monitoring at 4 weeks. Three hundred six outpatients with mild or no angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class I or II), abnormal exercise tests, and ischemia on ambulatory monitoring were randomized to receive either atenolol (100 mg/d) or placebo. After 4 weeks of treatment, the number (mean +/- SD, 3.6 +/- 4.2 versus 1.7 +/- 4.6 episodes, P < .001) and average duration (30 +/- 3.3 versus 16.4 +/- 6.7 minutes, P < .001) of ischemic episodes per 48 hours of ambulatory monitoring decreased in atenolol- compared with placebo-assigned patients (4.4 +/- 4.6 to 3.1 +/- 6.0 episodes and 36.6 +/- 4.1 to 30 +/- 5.5 minutes). Event-free survival improved in atenolol-treated patients (P < .0066), who had an increased time to onset of first adverse event (120 versus 79 days) and fewer total first events compared with placebo (relative risk, 0.44; 95% confidence intervals, 0.26 to 0.75; P = .001). There was a nonsignificant trend for fewer serious events (death, resuscitation from ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina) in atenolol-treated patients (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence intervals, 0.22 to 1.33; P = .175). The most powerful univariate and multivariate correlate of event-free survival was absence of ischemia on ambulatory monitoring at 4 weeks. Side effects were mild and generally similar comparing atenolol- and placebo-treated patients, although bradycardia was more frequent with atenolol. CONCLUSIONS: Atenolol treatment reduced daily life ischemia and was associated with reduced risk for adverse outcome in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients compared with placebo.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Myocardial infarct artery patency and reocclusion rates after treatment with duteplase at the dose used in the International Study of Infarct Survival-3. Burroughs Wellcome Study Group.

Duteplase, 98% double-chain recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, was administered intravenously in 488 patients with acute myocardial infarction in a multicenter, open, safety and patency study. Duteplase dosing was based on body weight. Duteplase was administered as a bolus of 0.04 MIU/kg of thrombolytic activity followed by 0.36 MIU/kg over 1 hour and 0.067 MIU/kg/hour for 3 additional hours. The patency rate of the infarct-related artery at 90 minutes was 69% (330 of 478). The reocclusion rate at 3 to 48 hours was 6% (18 of 301). Reinfarction occurred in 7.6% of patients (37 of 488), but 12 reinfarctions occurred after coronary angioplasty. Serious bleeding occurred in 7.6% of patients (37 of 488), predominantly at the catheterization entry site. There were 3 instances of central nervous system bleeding, 1 fatal. Fibrinogen levels declined to 83% of baseline at 24 hours. Weight-based dosing may explain the low incidence of serious bleeding in this study. The in-hospital mortality was 6.6% (32 of 488). This study documents that the dose of duteplase used in the International Study of Infarct Survival-3 results in a 90-minute coronary artery patency rate and safety profile comparable to those reported in published studies on the approved dose of alteplase.

Coronary Angiography↗

Nitrate therapy and the development of tolerance.

The efficacy of organic nitrates in the treatment of acute episodes of angina pectoris is unquestioned. However, long-term use of these agents is associated with the development of tolerance or of reduced efficacy over time when given in doses or formulations that maintain therapeutic blood levels for 24-hour periods. Thus, the role of long-term use of nitrates in prophylactic treatment of stable angina has been questioned. The purpose of this brief review is to evaluate nitrate tolerance, a key issue in the prophylactic use of nitrates, as well as to review what is known about clinical rebound. These issues are discussed, and ways of preventing tolerance development are explored. Intermittent therapy involving a dose-free interval during each 24-hour period helps prevent tolerance.

Angina Pectoris↗

Efficacy of isosorbide mononitrate in angina pectoris.

The rapid development of tolerance has limited the applicability of oral and transdermal nitrates in the long-term management of patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. Recent well-controlled trials have demonstrated that asymmetrical, or eccentric, dosing of oral isosorbide mononitrate, in which 20-mg doses are taken at 8 A.M. and 3 P.M., provides at least 12 hours of antianginal coverage. There is no evidence for the development of tolerance with this schedule, which allows for a 17-hour nitrate withdrawal period. Likewise, the asymmetrical 20-mg twice daily regimen has not been associated with the zero-hour effect that has been reported with higher oral doses of isosorbide mononitrate and with intermittent nitroglycerin patch therapy. This approach also avoids the development of a clinical rebound phenomenon, as measured by increased episodes of angina and nitroglycerin consumption, compared with the pretreatment period, during the nitrate-free interval at night and the early hours of the morning.

Angina Pectoris↗

Role of nitrates in angina pectoris.

Nitrates are used extensively for the treatment of angina pectoris. However, continuous therapy with either oral nitrates or nitroglycerin patches leads to rapid development of tolerance, with loss or diminution of antianginal and anti-ischemic effects. The only practical way to avoid the development of tolerance is to use intermittent daily therapy with nitrates. Nitroglycerin patches applied for 10-12 hours during the day increase exercise duration for 8-12 hours, but a rebound increase in anginal attacks during the nitrate-free interval may occur. Oral isosorbide-5-mononitrate, 20 mg twice a day, with the first dose administered in the morning and the second dose 7 hours later, increases exercise duration for at least 12 hours without the development of tolerance to either the morning or afternoon dose. This dosing regimen has been shown not to produce a rebound phenomenon during the periods of low nitrate levels at night and early hours of the morning. Isosorbide dinitrate (30 mg) prescribed at 7 AM and 1 PM does not produce tolerance to the 7 AM dose, but effects of the afternoon dose have not been evaluated. Recent data suggest that isosorbide dinitrate given 3 or 4 times daily produces tolerance and this dosing schedule is inadequate for antianginal prophylaxis. It should be recognized that intermittent oral or patch therapy with nitrates during the day leaves the patient unprotected at night and early hours of the morning. If this is of concern, additional therapy with another class of antianginal agent, preferably a long-acting beta blocker or a long-acting calcium antagonist should be instituted.

Angina Pectoris↗

Effects of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. doses of isosorbide-5-mononitrate during twice-daily therapy in stable angina pectoris.

"Trough" plasma concentrations of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN), an active metabolite of isosorbide dinitrate, of less than 95 ng/ml are considered necessary to prevent development of tolerance to isosorbide dinitrate and IS-5-MN. In a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, the effects of IS-5-MN during twice daily eccentric therapy were evaluated in 18 patients with reproducible exercise-induced angina who were nitrate responders. In a random order, patients received either placebo or IS-5-MN (20 mg) at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. for 1 week each. Average trough plasma IS-5-MN concentrations before the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses were 67 and 226 ng/ml, respectively, and increased to 382 and 488 ng/ml 2 hours after the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses, respectively. Despite a more than threefold higher trough plasma IS-5-MN concentration before the 2 p.m. dose than before the 8 a.m. dose, the increase in exercise duration 2 hours after the doses was similar (1.21 minutes [21%] after 8 a.m. dose, and 1.08 minutes [19%] after 2 p.m. dose). These increases in exercise duration after IS-5-MN were significantly (p less than 0.01) greater than those observed after placebo (0.17 minutes [3%] after 8 a.m. dose, and -0.05 minute [-0.5%] after 2 p.m. dose). Reduction in standing systolic blood pressure at 2 hours after the doses was also nearly identical after the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses of IS-5-MN (21 [15%] and 19 [14%] mm Hg, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Evaluation of a prolonged infusion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (Duteplase) in preventing reocclusion following successful thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

The hypothesis that an infusion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) maintained for up to 24 hours could prevent reocclusion after early coronary patency had been established was evaluated in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The rt-PA studied was an investigational double chain rt-PA (Duteplase, Burroughs Wellcome Co.), administered according to body weight. Coronary patency was documented in 139 of 213 patients who had 90-minute angiograms recorded after an initial lytic dose of rt-PA. In these responders a further 90-minute infusion at one third the initial lytic dose was given before assignment to 1 of 4 maintenance dose rates (0.012, 0.024, 0.036, 0.048 MIU/kg/hour) which were continued for the subsequent 9 to 21 hours. The principal end point was the status of the infarct-related coronary artery 12 to 24 hours after the start of therapy, and before termination of rt-PA, in patients with initially patent vessels at 90 minutes. Of the 103 responders with repeat angiograms after a 9 to 21 hour maintenance infusion of rt-PA, a total of 17 (16.5%) patients reoccluded across all doses administered. There was no significant relationship between the maintenance dose rate and the incidence of reocclusion. However, there was strong association between total dose of rt-PA administered and the incidence (16%) of serious or life-threatening bleeding exclusive of surgery. Other factors associated with serious bleeding included low body weight, female gender, and total duration of rt-PA infusion. Reocclusion was independent of the 90-minute Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction trial perfusion grade and diameter of infarct vessel. Rethrombosis after establishment of early patency after rt-PA remains a significant problem that is unaffected by sustained rt-PA infusion in doses that can be tolerated.

Female↗