Experience with 5 years of drug therapy of ischemic heart disease patients with stable angina and stenosing atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries

The results of 5-year pharmacologic treatment of 234 coronary patients with stable angina of varying functional classes are reported. Coronarography detected stenosis of major coronary arteries in all cases; ventriculography demonstrated no disorders of left-ventricular contractility. Clinical improvement and stabilization occurred in 75.2% of patients, deterioration, in 24.8%. Of the latter group, nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred in 13.7%, and signs of heart failure developed in 9.8%. Repeat bicycle ergometry demonstrated increased or unchanged physical stress tolerance in 67.1%. Working capacity was intact after five years in 61.1%. Therefore, long-term medication of coronary patients with stable angina and normal left-ventricular contractility has proved efficient.