In a nutshell
This paper studied whether ranolazine (Ranexa) can improve blood flow in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Some background
Angina (chest pain), usually occurs when there is not enough blood flow to the heart. Ranolazine has shown to reduce angina and ischemia (lack of blood flow to the heart). However, the effect of ranolazine in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention is not known. Percutaneous coronary intervention is a procedure done to open up narrowed blood vessels. This improves blood flow to the heart.
Methods & findings
Patients with chronic angina who had an acute coronary syndrome (sudden blockage of blood to the heart) were studied. Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were compared to patients who did not. Patients were assigned to receive either ranolazine or a placebo (drug that has no real effect). They were followed for 1 year.
After 1 year, 20.3% of patients receiving placebo and 26.4% of patients receiving ranolazine stopped treatment.
Patients who had percutaneous coronary intervention and who received ranolazine were 31% less at risk of another ischemic event than patients who received a placebo. Patients who received ranolazine were 61% less at risk of death from heart causes than patients who received placebo.
In comparison, patients who did not have percutaneous coronary intervention and who received ranolazine were 19% less at risk of another ischemic event than patients who received placebo.
The bottom line
The fine print
There were some initial differences in the group of patients who received ranolazine and placebo.
What’s next?
Discuss with your doctor about receiving ranolazine if you are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Published By :
Clinical cardiology
Date :
Jun 08, 2015
