The Effects of Oral Nitric Oxide Donor (Molsidomine) in Patients with Variant Angina Unresponsive to Conventional Anti-Anginal Drugs

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We observed the changes of clinical characteristics after oral Molsidomine, a nitric oxide donor, in patients who have documented coronary artery spasm by ergonovine coronary angiogram and refractory to conventional anti-anginal therapy. METHOD: Molsidomine, oral nitric oxide donor, was administrated over 12 weeks in 20 patients (6 male, 14 female, 54+/-11.5 years) in order to observe the clinical effects in patients with coronary artery spasm unresponsive to nitrate and calcium channel blockers. Changes in the frequency of pain and sublingual nitroglycerin use, blood pressure, heart rate, side effects, electrocardiogram, and laboratory findings were evaluated before and after Molsidomine therapy. RESULTS: The frequencies of pain and sublingual nitroglycerin use were 3.9+/-0.9/week before treatment and decreased to 2.9+/-0.9/week at 4th week after the additional Molsidomine treatment (pre-treatment vs. 4th week; p<0.001), to 1.0+/-0.8/week at 8th week (4th week vs. 8th week; p<0.001), and to 0.7+/-0.8/week at 12th week. Systolic blood pressure decreased after treatment, but there were no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, resting electrocardiogram and laboratory findings. Molsidomine was discontinued in one patient because of headache. CONCLUSIONS: Molsidomine is an effective and well tolerated anti-ischemic agent in patients with variant angina refractory to conventional anti-anginal therapy.