The Effects of Orally Administered Atenolol on the Coronary Hemodynamics and Prostaglandin Metabolism in Angina Pectoris Patients

The effects of oral atenolol on coronary hemodynamics and prostaglandin metabolism have been investigated in 8 chronic stable angina pectoris patients who underwent the supine bicycle ergometer. At rest, atenolol taken orally reduced the pressure-rate product significantly (P < 0.05) but did not significantly affect the coronary sinus blood flow or the coronary sinus pressure. During exercise, atenolol also reduced the pressure-rate product significantly (P < 0.05) but did not significantly affect the coronary sinus blood flow, the coronary sinus pressure, or the coronary vascular resistance. Atenolol also did not significantly affect the thromboxane B2/6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha ratio in the arterial blood before and after exercise but did reduce this ratio in the coronary sinus blood by 15% from 1.9 +/- 1.1 to 1.5 +/- 0.46 (P < 0.10) after exercise. These results indicate that atenolol taken orally does not significantly depress the coronary hemodynamics. However, the effects of atenolol on the prostaglandin metabolism could not be clearly determined.