Pentaerythritol Jetranitrate in the Jreatment of Angina Pectoris

Abstract

Although many drugs have been advocated for the treatment of angina pectoris, only the nitrites have proved unequivocally useful. Glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) promptly relieves the pain of angina pectoris, but its value as a prophylactic agent is limited by the short duration of its action. For this reason, various related compounds have been developed in an effort to find a long-acting drug which would prevent anginal pain. Von Oettingen and his co-workers¹studied the pharmacology and toxicity of pentaerythritol (Peritrate) tetranitrate in 1944. Subsequently, several favorable reports on its use in angina pectoris were published in Europe.* Winsor and Humphreys⁴studied the effect of pentaerythritol tetranitrate on 125 patients who had angina pectoris. They found that an average dose of 10 mg. three times daily produced satisfactory prevention of precordial pain in 78.4% of the patients. Glyceryl trinitrate requirement was reduced; exercise tolerance was increased, and the S-T