[Nitrates in the treatment of chronic stable angina].

The use of nitrates in chronic stable angina is reviewed, with special emphasis on everyday clinical practice. The expectable benefits are referred, namely symptoms improvement and objective reduction os ischemia in the stress test and Holter monitoring. The use of nitrates in acute angina and in prophylaxis of chronic ischemia as well as their adverse effects are also discussed. Nitrates efficacy is compared against beta-blockers and calcium antagonists. In conclusion, nitrates have a moderate efficacy and should be used in association with other anti-ischemic drugs, in eccentrical therapeutical schemes with a free interval between doses.