Pharmacological aspects in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.
Recent studies have demonstrated a trend toward improved survival in coronary artery disease. Contributing to this trend are advances in medical therapy. In order to evaluate the preventive effect of drugs in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, many multi-centered trials were conducted. There is evidence that beta-adrenergic blocking agents may decrease mortality following myocardial infarction. Platelet-active drugs reduce the rate of reinfarctions and may have a beneficial effect on survival. In contrast lipid lowering agents, anticoagulants, antiarrhythmic drugs and calcium channel blockers have not shown convincing beneficial effect on the survival of patients following myocardial infarction, and further studies are required to determine the effect of the various modalities in different clinical settings.
Friedensohn
A
A
Heart Institute, Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Schlesinger
Z
Z
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors