Experience of the use of course treatment with carvedilol in patients withischemic heart disease with stable angina pectoris

Clinical efficacy and safety of course treatment with carvedilol (25 mg/day for 2 months as monotherapy) were assessed in an open noncomparative study on patients with stable class I-II angina; 67% of patients had concomitant moderate hypertension. Treatment with carvedilol resulted in favorable dyn amics of main hemodynamic indices and significant increases (p<0,001) of th e following parameters of exercise tests: total exercise duration, threshol d load and total work. According to data of exercise tests effect of therap y was considered positive in 80% of patients. Number of anginal attacks per week was reduced by 91% (p<0,0001) and these attacks were characterized by diminished intensity. Nitroglycerin consumption also significantly decreas ed (by 95%, p<0,0003). No changes of total cholesterol and glucose levels o ccurred while plasma level of triglycerides became significantly (p<0,01) l ower by the end of the study. There were no serious adverse effects. Thus, course treatment of patients with stable class I-II angina with carvedilol (25 mg o.d. for 2 months) was highly effective and was not associated with negative effects on metabolism of lipids and glucose. Carvedilol was well t olerated and did not cause serious complications.