Favorable effects of acebutolol on exercise performance and angina in men with coronary artery disease.

Acebutolol, a relatively cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocking drug, was administered to 20 men with coronary artery disease and angina. A three month double-blind cross-over (placebo and acebutolol) design was used following a 12-week placebo phase and a six-week dose-titration phase. During the cross-over phase, acebutolol (400 mg in 19 men and 300 mg in one, orally three times per day) increased the duration of treadmill exercise (placebo, 6.8 +/- 0.5) min [average +/- SEM]; acebutolol, 8.1 +/- 0.6 min; P less than 0.05) and decreased the frequency of ST segment depression during exercise (placebo, 12 or 20 men; acebutolol, 6 of 20 men). The heart rate x systolic blood pressure product (x 10(-2)) was decreased both at rest (placebo, 105.0 +/- 4.0; acebutolol, 84.0 +/- 3.0; P less than 0.01) and during exercise (placebo, 199.0 +/- 10.0; acebutolol, 144.0 +/- 8.0; P less than 0.01). Acebutolol treatment decreased the frequency of angina (diary cards) (placebo, 9.0 +/- 2.4 episodes per week; acebutolol, 6.4 +/- 2.2 episodes per week; P less than 0.05) and decreased the consumption of nitroglycerin (placebo, 9.0 +/- 4.4 tablets per week; acebutolol, 7.4 +/- 4.0 tablets per week; P less than 0.05). Results suggest that acebutolol increases exercise performance and decreases the occurrence of angina in men with coronary disease.