| Abstract: | Effectiveness of a prolonged form of diltiazem was studied in 20 patients with stable effort angina and chronic cardiac failure (NYHA functional class II). Dilcem-retard was given in a dose 180 mg/day for 6 months. Clinical condition, exercise tolerance, left ventricular functional and geometric parameters, heart rhythm variability, late potentials, Holter monitoring evidence were assessed before and after the treatment. Dilcem-retard improved the patients' condition, exercise tolerance, promoted normalization of left ventricular diastolic function, had no negative influence on cardiac output, reduced occurrence of sympathicotonia and late potentials. |
