Antianginal action of calcium antagonists: Instrumental findings and their clinical assessment

In 88 patients with coronary heart disease and stable exercise-induced angina pectoris, the efficiency of calcium antagonists was examined by using myocardial Tl-199 scintigraphy and comparing its data with the parameters of angiography and their intracoronary injection. Three types of therapy-induced changes in myocardial perfusion were identified, which were as follows: 1) significant decreases in hypoperfusion area dimensions; 2) no changes in scintigraphic parameters, and 3) clinically asymptomatic increases in tire number of hypoperfused sectors. There was a relationship between the therapy-induced changes and the number of sclerotic arteries though the ability of large coronary vessels to dilate was substantially decreased, as shown by angiopharmacological studies.