A comparison of the day-long antianginal effectiveness of nitroglycerin patches with that of three-times-daily isosorbide dinitrate: a double-blind study using dose titration.

Eight men with stable angina, a positive treadmill test, and demonstrated responsiveness to chronic oral isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) were studied after they had been taking effective doses of ISDN t.i.d. for at least 2 weeks. Exercise tests were performed every 1-2 h until 19.00 hours over one day after the 08.00 hours application of nitroglycerin patches in a previously titrated dose; on another day after the administration of ISDN capsules q5h; and on a third day after placebo patches and capsules. The mean necessary effective patch dose was 125 cm2 (60-220 cm2). The mean exercise duration to angina rose from 271 to 480 s 1 h after nitroglycerin patches (P less than 0.001). Nitroglycerin patches were superior to the placebo throughout the day, but in a declining degree--by 94 s at 19.00 hours (P less than 0.05). ISDN q5h provided peaks of increased walking time to angina 1 h after each dose, but after 3 h exercise time was down to placebo levels. Furthermore, the peaks were of diminishing amplitude: 200 s at 09.00 hours, 150 s at 14.00 hours, but only 70 s at 19.00 hours. Thus, neither nitrate regimen provided continuous near-peak benefit throughout the 11 h period, although nitroglycerin patches had a significantly greater (P less than 0.05) overall effect during the day.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes