[Relation of the anti-anginal effect of nitroglycerin and its blood level in patients with stable exertion-induced stenocardia].

In 8 patients with coronary heart disease and stable angina pectoris of effort, a relationship was examined between nitroglycerin antianginal effects and blood concentration when it was topically applied to the gum (trinitrolong, TNL) and to the skin (nitroderm, ND). A close correlation was found between the antianginal effects and blood concentration (r = 0.97 for TNL and r = 0.81 for ND). The individual correlation coefficients were 0.61 to 0.84 for TNL and 0.31 to 0.79 for ND). In all cases but one, the antianginal effect was demonstrable when blood NG concentration reached 0.75 ng/ml, while in some cases (23%) at a concentration of 0.5 ng/ml or less.