Acute, short- and long-term efficacy of oral bevantolol in patients with coronary artery disease: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study.

The efficacy and safety of bevantolol (new cardioselective beta-blocking agent without intrinsic sympathetic activity) were evaluated in chronic stable angina pectoris. Acute effects on heart rate (HR) and pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in the first second, FEV1, and vital capacity, VC) (double-blind placebo, propranolol, 80 mg, and bevantolol, 150 mg) and the antianginal efficacy during early (double-blind placebo period) and chronic bevantolol therapy (long-term follow-up for 52 weeks) were studied. Bevantolol reduces HR in the same way as propranolol (both p less than 0.01). Pulmonary function is modified significantly only by propranolol (decreasing FEV1, p less than 0.05). Bevantolol reduces antianginal attacks and nitroglycerin consumption (p less than 0.01) and improves exercise tolerance (p less than 0.01) during early and chronic therapy.