ANIPAMIL PREVENTS ST DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE ANGINA-PECTORIS

The purpose of this study was to examine the 24-hour antiischemic effi cacy of once-a-day anipamil compared to placebo in the treatment of pa tients with stable angina. The study was designed as a double-blind, p lacebo-controlled crossover study with an initial 3 week single-blind placebo period. The patients received anipamil 80 mg once daily, anipa mil 160 mg once daily, and placebo in a randomized order. At the end o f each treatment period the patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording. Nineteen patients were included, all with typical stable an gina pectoris for at least 2 months, exercise test with greater than o r equal to 0.10 mV horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression and limited by angina pectoris, and at least 10 attacks of angina pectori s in the initial single-blind placebo period. During the placebo perio d, a total duration of transient myocardial ischemia greater than or e qual to 0.10 mV during the 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring period wa s 2263 minutes, 75% of which were asymptomatic. Anipamil 80 mg and 160 mg significantly reduced the duration of episodes to 712 minutes (p < 0.001), with 87% asymptomatic, and to 913 minutes (p > 0.001), with 9 2% asymptomatic, respectively. In conclusion, anipamil given once a da y is an effective 24-hour antiischemic drug in the treatment of transi ent myocardial ischemia.