NUCLEOSIDE TRANSPORT INHIBITION BY DRAFLAZINE IN UNSTABLE CORONARY-DISEASE

Objectives In a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study, we evaluated the tolerability and safety of draflazine, a nucleoside tra nsport inhibitor, in the treatment of patients with unstable angina an d non-Q-wave infarction.Methods Twenty-one patients were randomised to treatment with draflazine 3.5 mg or matching placebo given as an IV i nfusion and haemodynamic and symptomatic tolerability were investigate d. Myocardial ischaemia was evaluated by means of vectorcardiography a nd blood analysis of the MB fraction of creatine kinase.Results The st udy drug was well tolerated by all patients and it did not cause any a dverse haemodynamic effects, nor other serious adverse events. Three p atients in the placebo group reported five adverse events, as compared to a single adverse event in the draflazine group. Cardiovascular eve nts were detected in 7 patients in the placebo group and in 5 patients receiving draflazine. The mean duration of chest pain during the 24 h our observation period was 91.4 min in the placebo group compared to 7 5.5 min in draflazine treated patients. Neither the vectorcardiographi c nor biochemical measures of ischaemia differed between treatment gro ups. Conclusion Nucleoside transport inhibition by draflazine was well tolerated by patients with unstable coronary disease. It seems to be a promising method of adenosine enhancement in acute myocardial ischae mia. The potential cardioprotective effect of the drug needs further e valuation in larger trials.