EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM GALLOPAMIL IN ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE

In a single-blind study the effects of a new calcium entry blocker, gallopamil (50 mg TID) were evaluated in 30 patients (mean age, 56 +/- 7 years; seven women), 25 with stable angina and five with mixed angina. After providing informed consent, patients were studied for four weeks with placebo and thereafter for 26 weeks with gallopamil. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured and electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed at the beginning and during the study. Holter electrocardiogram (24 hours), ergometric ECG, and B-mode and M-mode echocardiography were carried out at week 0 and at the end of the 26 weeks of treatment. At the end of placebo, 27 of 30 patients experienced angina during the ergometric test, while after 26 weeks of treatment only 19 experienced angina. In these 19 patients in whom angina was still present at the end of the study, the time of its onset during ergometric test was delayed (7.5 +/- 0.6 minutes at week 26 versus 5.7 +/- 0.6 minutes at week 0, P < 0.001). The work load and the length of exercise in the 30 patients increased significantly at the end of treatment versus placebo (work load = 92 +/- 2 W versus 77 +/- 1 W and exercise length = 9.6 +/- 0.6 versus 7.8 +/- 0.5 minutes, n = 30, P < 0.001 for both). No significant differences in the ejection fractions (echocardiography) were observed. No appreciable side effects were seen. Our data confirm the efficacy and tolerability of gallopamil in the treatment of angina without any appreciable reduction of cardiac performance.