Comparative short-term effect of once-daily molsidomine on chronic angina in general practitioners' versus cardiologists' coronary patient populations.

INTRODUCTION: The direct nitric oxide donor molsidomine is commonly used to relieve symptoms in chronic angina thanks to its vasodilatory properties that induce both a reduction in myocardial oxygen demand and an increase in coronary blood flow. The objective of this study was to compare the short-term effect of molsidomine 16 mg once daily (Coruno(®), Therabel Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dublin, Ireland) in patients with stable angina previously on molsidomine 8 mg twice daily, in care of general practitioners (GPs) versus cardiologists.

METHODS: A total of 53 and 80 patients treated by GPs and cardiologists, respectively, took part in this multicenter, open-label clinical trial. Frequency of anginal attacks, short-acting nitroderivative tablets consumption, and subjective clinical status were evaluated, as was tolerability to molsidomine through the reporting of adverse events (AEs), the recording of vital parameters-resting blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram-and routine blood analyses.

RESULTS: Although demographic and clinical characteristics were significantly different in GPs' compared with cardiologists' patients, the effect of either the 8 mg or the 16 mg molsidomine formulation on anginal crises and nitroderivatives consumption was similar in both patient cohorts, with a trend for the 16 mg formulation to be more efficient on symptoms in elderly patients. Subjective assessment of the beneficial effect of molsidomine 16 versus 8 mg was comparable in GPs' and cardiologists' patients independently of age, "no change" being the most often reported item. Self-evaluation of functional capacity in elderly showed on the whole no difference between the two patient cohorts, only magnitude of pace and total score on molsidomine 16 mg being higher in cardiologists' compared with GPs' patients, and total score in cardiologists' patients higher on molsidomine 16 mg compared with 8 mg. Incidences of AEs and drug-related AEs, as well as proportions of patients reporting such AEs, were similar between GPs' and cardiologists' patient cohorts as between molsidomine 8 and 16 mg formulations. Molsidomine 16 mg once daily had no clinically significant effect on blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram or blood parameters, and compliance with treatment was excellent in whatever patient cohort.

CONCLUSION: Despite significant demographic and clinical differences between patients in care of GPs and cardiologists, molsidomine was equally efficient in these two patient cohorts, with a trend towards less anginal attacks in the elderly when treated with the 16 mg compared with the 8 mg formulation. Compliance and tolerability to the drug were excellent in both patient cohorts.