Efficacy and safety of nicorandil in the treatment of patients with coronary artery spasm

AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of nicorandil in the treatment of patients with coronary artery spasm. METHODS 50 patients with coronary artery spasm were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. The control group was given routine therapy, including antiplatelet and lipid therapy and the treatment group had routine therapy combined with nicorandil 5 mg, 3/d. Clinical therapy effects of the two groups and endothelial function were determined (the content of NO and endothelin-1) before and after treatment and drug safety was observed. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the clinical effects were clearly superior in the treatment group (P<0.05). After treatment, the NO content was increased (P<0.05), and the content of ET-1 was decreased (P<0.05) in the control group; After 3 months of treatment with nicorandil, the content of NO was increased significantly (P<0.01) and the ET-1 content was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, treatment with nicorandil for 3 months increased the NO content (P<0.01), and decreased the ET-1 content significantly (P<0.01). The treatment group had only 1 adverse effecxt of mild headache which was tolerated by the patient. CONCLUSION Nicorandil has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with coronary artery spasm.