Elkayam U, Mehra A, Shotan A, Osprzega E
Department of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC) Los Angeles 90033.
Am J Cardiol. 1992 Nov 27;70(17):49G-53G; discussion 53G-54G. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(92)90026-u.
Prolonged exposure to organic nitrates has been shown to lead to the rapid development of tolerance to the peripheral and coronary vasodilatory effects of these drugs. As a result of this phenomenon, the hemodynamic and anti-ischemic effects of nitrates may be rapidly attenuated in patients with ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, or both. This nitrate tolerance appears to be both dose- and time-dependent. Likely mechanisms proposed for its development are multifactorial and include depletion of sulfhydryl groups, a nitrate-mediated increase in blood volume, and neurohormonal stimulation with activation of vasoconstrictive mechanisms.