To evaluate the effects of calcium channel blocker (CCB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in stable angina pectoris (SAP), 87 patients with SAP (57.6+/-10.0 yr, 52 males) were divided into two groups; CCB group (group I: n=44, 57.9+/-9.7 yr, 23 males) vs. CCB plus ACEI group (group II: n=43, 57.2+/-10.5 yr, 29 males). Flow mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, pulse wave velocity (PWV), urinary albumin excretion (UAE), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared. FMD, PWV, UAE, and hsCRP were not different between the groups at baseline. After 6 months of treatment, FMD were significantly improved in group II (7.5+/-3.7 to 8.8+/-2.7%, p<0.001), but not in group I (7.9+/-2.7 to 8.2+/-2.8%, p=0.535). Brachial-ankle PWV were significantly improved in both groups (1,621.3+/-279.4 to 1,512.1+/-225.0 cm/sec in group I, p<0.001, 1,586.8+/-278.5 to 1,434.5+/-200.5 cm/sec in group II, p<0.001). However, heart-femoral PWV were significantly improved (1,025.7+/-145.1 to 946.2+/-112.2 cm/sec, p<0.001) and UAE were significantly decreased (20.19+/-29.92 to 13.03+/-16.42 mg/g Cr, p=0.019) in group II only. In conclusion, combination therapy with CCB and ACEI improves endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and UAE than CCB mono-therapy more effectively in patients with SAP.
Keywords: Angina Pectoris; Arterial Stiffness; Endothelial Function.