[Long-acting nitrate compounds (author's transl)].

Initially reserved to patients with angina pectoris, nitrate compounds are now being proposed for the long-term treatment of chronic coronary disease and, primarily, of congestive heart failure. As these new indications require sustained therapeutic activity the answer has been sought in slowly metabolized derivatives and modified pharmaceutical preparations. Recently published data suggest that long-acting nitrate compounds are clinically effective. Comparisons, however, are difficult owing to different methods and dosage regimens and to the isolated character of too many case-reports.