ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF THE CONTINUOUS USE OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF LONG-ACTING NITRATES IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE ANGINA-PECTORIS BY MEANS OF REPEATED DAILY ECG MONITORINGS

A study was made of the antianginal and antiischemic effects of sustac (ST) and trinitrolong (TNL) during their cross continuous use in patients with stable angina pectoris, functional class II-III (according to the classification of the Canadian Association of Cardiologists). In accordance with the daily ECG monitoring data, the three-month treatment with the effective doses of ST and TNL produced a significant lowering of the frequency and the total intensity of the episodes of ST segment depressions of the ischemic type as compared to the continuous administration of placebo. The use of criteria for evaluating the efficacy of the antianginal drugs (the decrease of the total number of ST segment depression episodes during one day by 3 and over and/or reduction of the total intensity of ST segment depression by 50% and over) made it possible to reveal varying effects of the nitrates on painful episodes (PE) and painless episodes of ST segment depression. Both the dosage forms of nitroglycerin administered in the effective amounts (in short- and long-term continuous treatment) significantly lowered the rate and total intensity of myocardial ischemia episodes at the expense of a significant decrease of the frequency and total intensity of PE. They produced no material effect on the number of painless episodes. Provided ST and TNK turned out ineffective, there was a significant rise of the frequency and total intensity of painless episodes in short-term continuous treatment while ST produced the above effect in long-term treatment. The rate and total intensity of PE significantly dropped, namely to a greater measure in TNL than in ST therapy carried out for a short period of time in patients undergoing continuous treatment.