[Exercise capacity of coronary heart disease patients in long-term follow-up with gallopamil in comparison with premedication with verapamil].

In 15 patients with coronary heart disease (mean data: age 60.4 years, body-weight average 72.5 kg, four females, eleven males, six patients with myocardial infarction) the long-term treatment with verapamil (340 mg/die p.o.) was replaced by gallopamil (123 mg/die). In six patients the additional treatment with long-lasting nitrates was continued. During a period of 1 year symptom-limited exercise tests (bicycle ergometry) were performed repeatedly (baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later). In comparison to the pretreatment with verapamil the calcium channel blocker gallopamil proved to be equally effective on the overall exercise performance, heart rate, and blood pressure regulation. Parameters of myocardial ischemia (maximal ST-depression, onset of significant ST-depression, duration of ST-changes after cessation of work) are less evident. Minor side effects include prolongation of the PQ-interval (0.24 on the mean in five patients) and arterial hypotension (two patients). One patient underwent coronary artery surgery as the complaints of angina pectoris worsened.