Effectiveness of molsidomine in the long-term treatment of exertional angina pectoris and chronic congestive heart failure.

Molsidomine, similar to nitrates, improves myocardial blood flow in hypoperfused, poststenotic myocardial regions, reduces left ventricular pressure and volumes, and leads to improvement in impaired regional wall motion. In patients with chronic, stable anginal pectoris who underwent long-term treatment with 2 mg of molsidomine three times daily there were reductions in ST segment depression of 45% and 9% at 1 and 3 hours after administration, respectively, and slight but statistically significant reductions in the rates of anginal attacks and nitrate consumption of 16% and 18%. Administration of 3 mg three times daily did not render more significant effects. Doubling the frequency of administration--that is, 2 mg six times daily--led to reductions in the rates of anginal attacks and nitrate consumption of 38% and 36%, respectively, and 4 mg led to a more marked reduction in ST segment depression of 57%. With administration of 8 mg of sustained-release molsidomine, a prolonged antiischemic effect was documented with reductions in ST segment depression of 74% at 1 hour and 31% at 8 hours after medication. In patients with congestive heart failure, 1 hour after administration of 4 mg of molsidomine there were significant reductions in systolic and diastolic pulmonary artery pressures of 25% and 30%, respectively. After 7 days of continuous treatment with 4 mg of molsidomine four times daily, comparable reductions in pulmonary artery pressure were observed. Thus molsidomine, in adequate dosages, elicits an unequivocal anti-ischemic and antianginal effect as well as a salutary reduction in left ventricular filling pressure.