PHARMACOLOGICAL PRECONDITIONING OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE BY LOW-DOSEDIPYRIDAMOLE

Fourteen patients affected with coronary artery disease underwent two consecutive dipyridamole echocardiographic stress tests, in basal cond itions and after repeated low doses of intravenous dipyridamole, follo wing the observation that pulse increases in adenosine plasma levels d ue to repeated intravenous administration of dipyridamole mimic the me chanism of ischemic preconditioning. Echocardiographic, electrocardiog raphic, haemodynamic parameters, and adenosine plasma levels were meas ured. After the second test, six patients were completely negative, an d in those right still positive the onset of dyssynergy was delayed.