Intravenous nitroglycerin suppresses exercise-induced arrhythmias in patients with ischaemic heart disease: Implications for long-term treatment

We studied 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease, who consistently developed complex ventricular arrhythmias during exercise testing. Treadmill exercise was performed twice, both during the placebo infusion and then during intravenous administration of nitroglycerin, titrated to reduce systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg. Exercise duration in those administered placebo was 7.8 ± 1.7 and 7.9 ± 1.5 min, respectively (ns): angina developed in five patients and ischaemic ST changes in 10. In those administered nitroglycerin, exercise duration increased to 8.4 ± 2 min (P