Effects of ranolazine in symptomatic patients with stable coronary artery disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Ranolazine (R), as add-on therapy in symptomatic patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease (CAD), has been tested in randomized clinical studies. Aim of the study was to assess in a meta-analysis the effects of R on angina, nitroglycerin consumption, functional capacity, electrocardiographic signs of ischemia and hemodynamic parameters in patients with chronic CAD.


METHODS
Randomized trials assessing the effects of R compared to control on exercise duration, time to onset of angina, time to 1mm ST-segment depression, weekly nitroglycerin consumption and weekly angina frequency were included in the analysis. The effects of R compared to control on heart rate and blood pressure were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Six trials enrolling 9223 patients were included in the analysis. At trough and peak levels, R compared to control significantly improved exercise duration, time to onset of angina and time to 1mm ST-segment depression. Additionally, R compared to control significantly reduced weekly angina frequency and weekly nitroglycerin consumption. Finally, R compared to control did not significantly reduce supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate, standing heart rate and diastolic blood pressure, whereas it modestly reduced standing systolic blood pressure. At sensitivity analysis, results were not influenced by concomitant background therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In symptomatic patients with chronic CAD, R, added to conventional therapy, effectively reduces angina frequency and sublingual nitroglycerin consumption while prolonging exercise duration as well as time to onset of ischemia and to onset of angina with no substantial effects on blood pressure and heart rate.
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
Gianluigi
G
Savarese
Giuseppe
G
Rosano
Carmen
C
D'Amore
Francesca
F
Musella
Giuseppe Luca
GL
Della Ratta
Angela Maria
AM
Pellegrino
Tiziana
T
Formisano
Alice
A
Vitagliano
Annapaola
A
Cirillo
Gennaro
G
Cice
Luigi
L
Fimiani
Luca
L
del Guercio
Bruno
B
Trimarco
Pasquale
P
Perrone-Filardi
D000083:Acetanilides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D000069458:Ranolazine
D000083:Acetanilides; D010879:Piperazines; D000069458:Ranolazine
Angina; Coronary artery disease; Ranolazine