Beschreibung:
<jats:p><jats:bold>Aim.</jats:bold> To assess the effects of the four-month trimetazidine MR therapy on the parameters of 24-hour electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Material and methods.</jats:bold> This prospective, non-randomised study, with the inclusion of 66 consecutive patients who had stable CHD and stable stress test results, investigated the effects of trimetazidine MR therapy on the parameters of 24-hour ECG monitoring and HRV.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results.</jats:bold> Trimetazidine MR did not markedly affect the 24-hour, daytime, or nighttime levels of heart rate. Trimetazidine MR therapy was not associated with any substantial changes in frequency and time-domain HRV parameters or in the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. However, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients with ST segment depression (from 66,7% to 43,8%; p<0,001) and in the duration of ischemic episodes (from 10 (6,2;21) minutes to 7,42 (5;12,3) minutes (p=0,025)).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion.</jats:bold> Adding trimetazidine MR to the treatment of patients with stable CHD provides an additional beneficial antiischemic effect.</jats:p>