BETA-BLOCKERS AND NITRATES IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSIVE DISEASE - LONG-TERM FINDINGS

Methods: The effect of 6 months' administration of celiprolol, atenolo l and isosorbide dinitrate on peripheral arterial occlusive disease (P AOD), double-blind and placebo-controlled, was investigated in 56 pati ents with chronic ischaemic heart disease and stage IIb PAOD, using as criteria the walking distance and the change in resistance index iii the femoral artery. The placebo group consisted of 14 patients with ch ronic ischaemic heart disease and the same stage of PAOD. Results: Pat ients on 50 mg/day atenolol showed a significant reduction in both pai n-free and maximal walking range compared with the controls. In contra st, those taking 200mg/day celiprolol and those on 80 mg/day isosorbid e dinitrate demonstrated significant increases in pain-free and maxima l walking distance compared with the control group. The colour duplex sonographically measured Doppler flow through the femoral artery showe d a significant decrease both in the patients taking celiprolol and in those on isosorbide dinitrate, while in those receiving atenolol the resistance index increased significantly. Conclusion: The study shows that the beta-adrenoceptor blocker celiprolol also possesses a mitrate -like vasodilatory property and can be used in patients with chronic i schaemic heart disease and impaired peripheral arterial blood flow.