Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with coronary artery disease during stress test before and after nisoldipine administration

The purpose of this study was to determine the response of plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) to dynamic exercise in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina pectoris and positive exercise tolerance test, before and after treatment with the calcium antagonist nisoldipine (20 mg/day buccally for 7 days). Plasma ET-1 levels and hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were determined at rest, at peak exercise and recovery. All patients had a positive electrically and clinically stress test and all of the eight patients did not developed ECG signs of myocardial ischemia after nisoldipine administration. Before nisoldipine treatment the plasma ET-1 levels did not increase significantly during exercise. After nisoldipine treatment the plasma ET-1 levels were significantly lower at rest and during exercise compared with those revealed before calcium antagonist treatment. In conclusion our results suggest that in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris the treatment with calcium antagonist nisoldipine reduced ischemia and plasma ET-1 levels.