Influence of trimetazidine and ranolazine on endothelial function in patients with ischemic heart disease

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events in patients with ischemic heart disease. Ranolazine and trimetazidine are novel drugs that reduce angina symptoms in the above-mentioned patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ranolazine and trimetazidine on flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerine-induced (GTN) dilation of the brachial artery. METHODS: In a prospective, double-blind study, 56 men between 32 and 65 years of age with chronic ischemic heart disease were randomized and subjected to 12 weeks of treatment with either trimetazidine (35 mg twice daily) or ranolazine. Ranolazine was administered at a dose of 375 mg twice daily for 4 weeks and was increased to 500 mg twice daily for the rest of the study. FMD and GTN were measured using high-resolution ultrasound before and after treatment. RESULTS: FMD increased from 3.5±7.4 to 13.8±9.4% (P<0.013; 294%) in the trimetazidine group and from 2.4±4.3 to 9.5±7.7% (P<0.037; 296%) in the ranolazine group, with no difference between the groups (P=0.444). GTN increased from 16.1±9.2 to 21.2±19.3% (P<0.022; 32%) in the trimetazidine group and from 13.8±9.6 to 21.7±13.7% (P<0.006; 57%) in the ranolazine group, with no difference between the groups (P=0.309). CONCLUSION: Both trimetazidine and ranolazine led to an improvement in FMD and GTN of the brachial artery in patients with ischemic heart disease, with no statistically significant difference between the groups.