Effect of trimetazidine on myocardial ischemia in patients with stable angina pectoris

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of trimetazidine on myocardial ischemia in patients withstable angina pectors. Methods 40 stable exertional angina patients with two positive exercise tests within oneweek and the difference of duration of exercise between two tests ≤ 10％ were included, with routine treatmentwere given trimetazidine 20 mg, tid for 12 weeks. Treadmill exercise testing was adopted and the following indexes were invesgated before and after therapy: ①times of angina petoris attack every week; ② consumption of nitroglycerin every week;③heart rate systolic pressure and their product;④time for inducing angina pectoris byexercise; ⑤time for inducing 1 mm ST segment depression by exercise; ⑥the total exercise time; ⑦total workload. Results After 12 weeks therapy of trimetazidine angina petoris attack and consumption of nitroglycerinevery week were decreased obviously(P ＜ 0.05 ), howerer heart rate systolic pressure and their product did notchange significantly(P ＞ 0.05). The results showed that trimetazidine significantly increased exercise durationtotal work load time to onset of angina and time to 1 mm ST segment depression( P ＜ 0.01 ). There were very fewadverse drug effects reported. Conclusion For patients with stable exertional angina, trimetazidine can increasethe exercise capacity, improve myocardial ischemia induced by exercise. The drug is safe and effective and well tolerated by patients. Key words: Angina pectotis; Trimetazidine; Myocardial ischemia; Exercise test