title: [Treatment of unstable angina with dipyridamole combined with low doses of aspirin. A multicenter pilot double-blind controlled study].
abstract: In order to assess the usefulness of a combination of low-dose aspirin (25 mg b.i.d.) with dipyridamole (200 mg b.i.d.) in the prevention of major coronary events in patients with acute unstable angina, we performed a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 88 consecutive patients admitted to three Hospital Departments of Cardiology. The patients entered the study as soon as possible after hospital admission, and were treated and followed up to one year. There was no appreciable difference in side effects and adverse reactions between the treatment and control group. The incidence of cardiac death and/or nonfatal myocardial infarction during the whole period of observation was 14% (6/44) in the treatment group and 25% (11/44) in the placebo group by "intention-to-treat" analysis; 16% (4/25) and 32% (10/31), respectively, by "drug-efficacy" analysis (p = 0.21 by Fisher's exact test, non significant difference). However, when considering the only events occurred in the first month (2/44 in the treatment group and 9/44 in the placebo group, amounting to 4.5 and 20 percent, respectively), the combination of dipyridamole with low-dose aspirin reached a statistically significant protective effect (p = 0.04). The results of this pilot study provide strong evidence for a beneficial effect of the regimen tested in patients with acute unstable angina, at least in the first weeks of treatment, while at the same time suggesting a safe alternative for patients with contraindications to higher doses of aspirin.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Clinica, Università di Padova.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prandoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbiero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cardaioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbaresi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zonzin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Visani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004176:Dipyridamole; D001241:Aspirin
vernacular_title: Trattamento dell'angina instabile con dipiridamolo associato a basse dosi di aspirina. Studio multicentrico pilota in doppio-cieco controllato.