Clinical evaluation of antianginal effects of carvediol (DQ-2466) with treadmill exercise testing in patients with effort angina pectoris. A randomized double-blind cross-over study in comparison with placebo.

To investigate the antianginal effects of carvedilol (DQ-2466), a randomized double-blind cross-over study controlled with placebo was carried out in 19 patients with stable effort angina pectoris. Multistage treadmill exercise testing was performed before and at 2, 7, and 24 hr after a single oral administration of 10mg of carvedilol or placebo. The exercise testing was terminated at moderate anginal pain.The treadmill exercise duration showed no statistically significant time effects or order effects either before or after administration of the test drugs. In comparison with placebo, carvedilol significantly prolonged both the exercise duration and the time to onset of ST-segment depression ≥0.1mV at 2 hr after administration. It also significantly prolonged the latter parameter at 7 hr after administration. It significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the pressure rate product (PRP), both at rest in the standing position and at peak exercise at 7 hr after administration. Carvedilol significantly reduced heart rate during exercise at 24 hr after administration. There were no significant differences between carvedilol and placebo, in the ST deviation at peak exercise, PRP at onset of the ST-segment depression ≥0.1 mV, or the ST/HR slope at 2, 7, and 24 hr after administration.These results indicate that carvedilol significantly increases exercise tolerance in patients with stable effort angina pectoris after a single oral administration of 10 mg. It is concluded that carvedilol is a clinically useful antianginal agent.