Physiologic Approach to the Treatment of Angina Pectoris

Abstract

WHEN the pharmacologic basis of therapy in angina pectoris is under consideration, it has been traditional to focus attention principally on alterations of coronary blood flow.^{1 2 3} A more accurate view is that the pain of myocardial ischemia is related to an unfavorable relation between myocardial oxygen demands and the availability of oxygen to the heart.⁴ Thus, in the analysis of the therapeutic measures available for the relief of angina pectoris, it is important to take into account the possibility of their actions of diminishing myocardial oxygen consumption as well as of improving coronary blood flow. The three important hemodynamic variables . . .