Antianginal Efficacy of Ranolazine When Added to Treatment With Amlodipine

Anti-ischemic and pleiotropic effects of ranolazine in chronic coronary syndromes

The vast majority of antianginal drugs decrease heart rate and or blood pressure levels or the inotropic status of the left ventricle to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and thus anginal symptoms. Ranolazine presents a completely different mechanism of action, which reduces the sodium-dependent calcium overload inhibiting the late sodium current. Current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of angina in patients with chronic coronary symptoms recommend the use of several drugs such as ranolazine, b-blockers, calcium channel blockers, long-acting nitrates, ivabradine, nicorandil and trimetazidine for angina relief. However, ranolazine, in addition to symptom relief properties, is an antianginal drug showing favorable effects in decreasing the arrhythmic burden and in ameliorating the glycemic profile of these patients. In this review, we summarize the available data regarding the antianginal and pleiotropic effects of this drug.

2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease."

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline.

STRUCTURE

This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost-value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease" provides an update to and consolidates new evidence since the "2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease" and the corresponding "2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Focused Update of the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease."

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from September 2021 to May 2022. Clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and other evidence conducted on human participants were identified that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline.

STRUCTURE

This guideline provides an evidenced-based and patient-centered approach to management of patients with chronic coronary disease, considering social determinants of health and incorporating the principles of shared decision-making and team-based care. Relevant topics include general approaches to treatment decisions, guideline-directed management and therapy to reduce symptoms and future cardiovascular events, decision-making pertaining to revascularization in patients with chronic coronary disease, recommendations for management in special populations, patient follow-up and monitoring, evidence gaps, and areas in need of future research. Where applicable, and based on availability of cost-effectiveness data, cost-value recommendations are also provided for clinicians. Many recommendations from previously published guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

Effects of ranolazine on various outcomes in patients with stable angina: an updated meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We determined the effect of ranolazine vs. placebo in angina patients on 1) selective measures of the ischemic burden, 2) cardiovascular outcomes, including atrial fibrillation incidence, 3) the in-treatment glycohemoglobin levels and the permanent discontinuations because of side effects, and 4) the achieved between-arms blood pressure and heart rate difference.

METHODS

PubMed and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases were searched for eligible trials until end of September 2020. Trial quality was assessed by the Rob2 tool. Risk ratios or achieved mean differences during follow-up and 95% confidence interval (CI) of categorical or continuous outcomes, respectively, were calculated (random-effects model). The relationship between discontinuation rates and ranolazine's mean dose was investigated by meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

We selected 18 trials (n = 12,995 patients in patients with macro or microvascular coronary heart disease. Achieved blood pressure and heart rate at rest were not different between randomized arms. Ranolazine administration compared to placebo was associated with an increase of 1) total exercise duration by 30 seconds (95% CI, 18-42), 2) time to 1 mm ST-segment depression by 44 seconds (95% CI, 30-54), and 3) time to angina onset by 40 seconds (95% CI, 30-54). On average, the incidence of atrial fibrillation was reduced by 25% following ranolazine treatment compared to placebo, while glycohemoglobin showed a mean decrease of 0.4% (95% CI, 0.3-0.5%).

DISCUSSION

Ranolazine remains an effective anti-ischemic drug, increases the angina-free exercise duration, delays the onset of ST-segment depression. The beneficial effects of ranolazine are extended to atrial fibrillation reduction rates and better glycemic control.

Promising Therapies for Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia

Sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, account for 15–20% of all deaths. Myocardial infarction increases the burden of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia by structural and electrical remodeling of the heart. The current management of new-onset atrial fibrillation includes electric cardioversion with very high conversion rates and pharmacologic cardioversion, with less a than 50% conversion rate. If atrial fibrillation cannot be converted, the focus becomes the control of the symptoms ensuring a constant rhythm and rate control, without considering other contributory factors such as autonomic imbalance. Recently, a huge success was obtained by developing ablation techniques or addressing the vagal nerve stimulation. On the other hand, ventricular tachycardia is more sensitive to drug therapies. However, in cases of non-responsiveness to drugs, the usual therapeutic choice is represented by stereotactic ablative therapy or catheter ablation. This review focuses on these newly developed strategies for treatment of arrhythmias in clinical practice, specifically on vernakalant and low-level tragus stimulation for atrial fibrillation and stereotactic ablative therapy for drug-refractory ventricular tachycardia. These therapies are important for the significant improvement of the management of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, providing: (1) a safer profile than current therapies, (2) higher success rate than current solutions, (3) low cost of delivery.

Ranolazine Versus Allopurinol for Eligible Symptomatic Patients With a History of Angioplasty: Comparative Efficacy Study

Background

Recurrent angina, which is defined as a return of chest pain or chest discomfort, occurs in many patients undergoing coronary interventions.

Objective

This study aims to compare the antianginal efficacy of ranolazine versus allopurinol for eligible symptomatic patients with a history of angioplasty.

Methods

A total of 62 eligible symptomatic patients with a history of angioplasty were randomly allocated into two groups. For group A, 300 mg of allopurinol was administered twice daily, while for group B, 1000 mg of ranolazine daily was prescribed for a duration of 4 weeks. An initial screening visit was done for all participants where patients’ medical history was recorded and a physical examination was given; electrocardiography, blood pressure, and heart rate measurements were done as well. The patients were also given a blood and exercise test. At the end of the medication period, participants were revisited, and the tests were done again. All the required data were collected via a researcher-made form, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS. The study was approved by a formal ethics committee.

Results

The mean age of participants in the two groups (A and B) was 57.36 (SD 8.36) and 60.27 (SD 9.17) years, respectively. Among the 62 patients, 34 (59%) were men, while 28 (41%) were women. Creatinine, fasting blood sugar, C-reactive protein, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic protein, uric acid, white blood cell, and hemoglobin levels of participants were not significantly different between groups (P>.05). Both allopurinol and ranolazine increased the total exercise time and decreased the ST depression of the patients. Additionally, they both improved the chest pain severity and Duke Treadmill Score of patients. At the same time, ranolazine had a statistically greater effect on ST depression reduction (mean 2.64, SD 0.74 vs mean 1.57, SD 0.49), while allopurinol showed better efficacy in reducing chest pain severity (mean 1.86, SD 0.37 vs mean 0.59, SD 0.21) and the Duke Treadmill Score (mean –14.77, SD 3.65 vs mean –6.88, SD 1.93).

Conclusions

Based on the results, the antianginal efficacy of allopurinol and ranolazine was approved but with different effects on ST depression, chest pain severity, and the Duke Treadmill Score. Therefore, the precise differences in their effects need to be explored further.

Contemporary Management of Refractory Angina

Refractory angina (RA) is defined as chest pain caused by coronary ischemia in patients on maximal medical therapy and is not amenable to revascularization despite advanced coronary artery disease (CAD). The long-term prognosis has improved with optimal medical therapy including risk factor modification. Still, patients are left with major impairment in quality of life and have high resource utilization with limited treatment options. We review the novel invasive and noninvasive therapies under investigation for RA.

Ranolazine: a better understanding of pathophysiology and patient profile to guide treatment of chronic stable angina

Chronic stable angina pectoris, the most prevalent symptomatic manifestation of coronary artery disease, greatly impairs quality of life and is associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of myocardial ischemia permitted new therapeutic strategies to optimize the management of angina patients. Ideally, antianginal drug treatment should be tailored to individual patient's profile and chosen according to the pathophysiology, hemodynamic profile, adverse effects, potential drug interactions and comorbidities. In this respect, and because of its peculiar mechanism of action, ranolazine represents an alternative therapeutic approach in patients with chronic stable angina and may be considered the first choice in presence of comorbidities that difficult the use of traditional therapies.

State of the art approach to managing angina and ischemia: tailoring treatment to the evidence

Stable angina represents a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects daily activities and quality of life in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). Current European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend a four-step approach for the medical treatment of patients taking into consideration hemodynamic variables (heart rate and blood pressure) and the presence or absence of left ventricular dysfunction. However, CCS patients often have several comorbidities and risk factors. Thus, a tailored approach that takes into consideration patient risk factors and comorbidities may have additional benefits beyond angina relief. This is a state of the art review of stable angina treatment based on the currently available evidence.

Quality of Life Assessment in Trials of Revascularization for Chronic Stable Angina: Insights from ORBITA and the Implications of Blinding

The main aims of therapy in chronic stable angina are to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and death and improve symptoms and quality of life (QoL). Unblinded trials have shown that revascularization does not reduce the risk of myocardial infarction or death but does appear to improve symptoms. However, symptoms are susceptible to the placebo effect which can bias therapies to appear more effective than they are. To assess the true physical impact of a treatment on symptoms, placebo-controlled trials with patients and medical and research teams blinded to treatment allocation are necessary. Symptoms and QoL can be reported directly by the patient or indirectly by the physician. Patient-reported outcome measures in angina trials can include angina frequency, frequency of nitrate use, exercise capacity, and questionnaires such as the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the generic EuroQOL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) QoL questionnaire. Physician-assessed outcome measures include Canadian Cardiovascular Society Class. The Objective Randomised Blinded Investigation with Optimal Medical Therapy of Angioplasty in Stable Angina (ORBITA) trial was the first blinded placebo-controlled study investigating the role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic stable angina. The trial showed a smaller than expected and not statistically significant effect of placebo-controlled PCI on the primary endpoint of change in exercise time at 6 weeks follow-up in single-vessel coronary artery disease. There was also no significant placebo-controlled treatment effect of PCI for the prespecified secondary endpoints of SAQ or EQ-5D-5L, although PCI did result in 20% more patients becoming free from angina than placebo in a non-prespecified secondary analysis. ORBITA has demonstrated the need for symptomatic and QoL effects of PCI to be studied using placebo control. Here, we describe ways of measuring QoL, the impact of the unblinded and blinded trials to date, what we have learned from ORBITA, and what is next for this common and complex condition.

Medical management of anginal symptoms in women with stable angina pectoris: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Medical therapies are used to improve stable anginal symptoms and quality of life in clinical practice however the evidence for the use of antianginal medication in women is largely unknown. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the extent of the evidence-base for the medical management of anginal symptoms in women with stable angina.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched to the end of December 2019. Retrieved papers were hand searched. Included were randomised controlled trials with at least one week of follow-up that included women with stable angina pectoris, with or without significant coronary atherosclerosis, randomised to conventional antianginal medication or/and a comparator, with a primary or secondary endpoint of angina frequency or glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) consumption.

RESULTS

A total of 397 eligible publications were included in a qualitative analysis, with women comprising up to 20-30% of the study populations. No publication that included women and men reported all data separately for each sex. Twenty-six publications reported any female data separately from male data but only 18 reported angina data for women, 12 of which included fewer than 10 women.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantially fewer women than men were included in randomised trials of antianginal medications reporting effects on anginal symptoms, and reporting of data by sex was infrequent. As a result, there is little evidence on which to base treatment recommendations for anginal symptoms in women. Our results provide a platform for future studies to fill this void in the evidence.

Interpretation of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire as an Outcome Measure in Clinical Trials and Clinical Care: A Review

Importance

Patient-reported outcomes are increasingly used as end points in clinical trials, assessments in clinical care, and tools for population health, with an increasing role in quality assessment. For patients with coronary artery disease, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) has emerged as the most commonly used measure of disease-specific health status to quantify patients' symptoms of angina and the extent to which their angina affects their functioning and quality of life. This review explains how to interpret the SAQ and describes the construction and face validity of the SAQ, focusing on aligning scores and changes in scores with clinical constructs.

Observations

The SAQ asks questions similar to those an experienced clinician would ask of a patient with stable ischemic heart disease. Therefore, SAQ scores can be aligned with clinical constructs (eg, scores on the SAQ angina frequency scale of 0-30 points indicate daily angina, 31-60 points indicate weekly angina, 61-99 points indicate monthly angina, and 100 points indicate no angina), and changes in scores can be described by aligning them with changes in question responses. After clinical thresholds are defined, it is important for clinical trials to not simply report mean differences between treatment arms but to also report the distributions of patients who have had clinically important benefits so that a number needed to treat can be generated.

Conclusions and Relevance

The widespread use of the SAQ is a consequence of its well-established validity, reproducibility, prognostic importance, and sensitivity to clinical change. Nevertheless, interpreting the SAQ can be challenging because of lack of familiarity with the clinical importance of its domains, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally. This review provides an overview of the interpretability of the SAQ as a foundation for its use as an end point in clinical trials, a tool to support more patient-centered care, and a means of facilitating population health strategies to provide a better foundation for the integration of patient experiences with clinical care.

Ranolazine Improves Glycemic Variability and Endothelial Function in Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Coronary Syndromes: Results from an Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

Ranolazine is a second-line drug for the management of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). Glucose-lowering and endothelial effects have also been reported with this agent. However, whether ranolazine may improve short-term glycemic variability (GV), strictly related to the prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), is unknown. Thus, we aimed to explore the effects of adding ranolazine to standard anti-ischemic and glucose-lowering therapy on long- and short-term GV as well as on endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with T2D and CCS.

METHODS

Patients starting ranolazine (n = 16) were evaluated for short-term GV, haemoglobin 1Ac (Hb1Ac) levels, endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and oxidative stress levels at enrolment and after 3-month follow-up. The same measurements were collected from 16 patients with CCS and T2D that did not receive ranolazine, matched for age, gender, and body mass index.

RESULTS

A significant decline in Hb1Ac levels was reported after 3-month ranolazine treatment (mean change -0.60%; 2-way ANOVA p = 0.025). Moreover, among patients receiving ranolazine, short-term GV indexes were significantly improved over time compared with baseline (p = 0.001 for time in range; 2-way ANOVA p = 0.010). Conversely, no significant changes were reported in patients without ranolazine. Finally, greater FMD and lower oxidative stress levels were observed in patients on ranolazine at 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Ranolazine added to standard anti-ischemic and glucose-lowering therapy demonstrated benefit in improving the glycemic status of patients with T2D and CCS. How this improvement contributes to the overall myocardial benefit of ranolazine requires further studies.

Refractory Angina-Unsolved Problem

The article discusses pharmacologic and interventional therapeutic options for patients with refractory angina. Refractory angina refers to long-lasting symptoms (≥3 months) due to established reversible ischemia in the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease, which cannot be controlled by escalating medical therapy with second-line and third-line pharmacologic agents, bypass grafting, or stenting. Due to an aging population, increased number of comorbidities, and advances in coronary artery disease treatment, incidence of refractory angina is growing. Although the number of therapeutic options is increasing, there is a lack of randomized clinical trials that could help create recommendations for this group of patients.

Effects of visualization of successful revascularization on chest pain and quality of life in chronic coronary syndrome: study protocol for the multi-center, randomized, controlled PLA-pCi-EBO-pilot-trial

Background

Stable coronary artery disease (CAD), recently termed chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), is a highly prevalent disease. Current treatment strategies often include a relevant placebo effect. The hypothesis is that visual angiographic demonstration of the coronary arteries before and after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by itself reduces the symptom burden of stable CAD/CCS.

Design and methods

The PLA-pCi-EBO-pilot-trial is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled investigator-initiated pilot trial to study the effect of visual demonstration of successful PCI on quality of life (QoL) and angina pectoris (AP) in patients with symptomatic stable CAD/CCS. All patients with stable CAD/CCS and successful PCI will be screened. One hundred forty four patients with a frequency of AP ≥ 2/week will be randomized 1:1 stratified for AP frequency > 1/day. The control group will receive the common written procedural report on the procedure. Patients in the intervention group will additionally be given a printout picture of their coronary angiogram both before and after PCI. Primary endpoints are change in the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ)-derived QoL score 1 and 6 months after PCI. Secondary endpoints are changes in other SAQ-derived scores and dyspnea (NYHA score) 1 and 6 months after PCI.

Discussion

The PLA-pCi-EBO-pilot-trial evaluates the effect of visual angiographic result demonstration on disease symptoms and QoL in patients with stable CAD/CCS on top of PCI. A positive outcome of our study would encourage the routine use of angiographic picture demonstration and has thus the potential to change daily routine in the catheterization laboratory.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017524. Registered on 5 July 2019

Late Sodium Current Inhibitors as Potential Antiarrhythmic Agents

Based on recent findings, an increased late sodium current (INa,late) plays an important pathophysiological role in cardiac diseases, including rhythm disorders. The article first describes what is INa,late and how it functions under physiological circumstances. Next, it shows the wide range of cellular mechanisms that can contribute to an increased INa,late in heart diseases, and also discusses how the upregulated INa,late can play a role in the generation of cardiac arrhythmias. The last part of the article is about INa,late inhibiting drugs as potential antiarrhythmic agents, based on experimental and preclinical data as well as in the light of clinical trials.

Treatment of stable ischaemic heart disease: the old and the new

Stable ischaemic heart disease is a frequent and very heterogeneous condition. Drug therapy is important, in these patients, for improving their prognosis and controlling their symptoms. The typical clinical manifestation of obstructive coronary disease is angina pectoris. This symptom can be improved by various classes of compounds, namely beta-blockers (BBs), calcium antagonist, and nitrates. More recently, ranolazine and ivabradine have been introduced. All these drugs have been proven to reduce significantly angina. On the other hand, there are no evidences supporting improvement in prognosis, besides for the use of BBs, in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) or systolic dysfunction. Besides drugs for symptoms control, these patients also receive antiplatelet drugs, specifically aspirin, and lipid lowering compounds such as statins. Furthermore, recent evidences supported the use of low doses direct anticoagulant, or a second antiplatelet agent in patients with previous MI. Similarly, a very low LDL cholesterol level, such as obtained with PCKS9 inhibitors, seems very beneficial in these patients. It is possible that in the near future a specific role for neo-angiogenesis factors and cellular therapies, could be proven, albeit, presently these treatments are not supported by solid evidences.

Role of endothelial dysfunction in determining angina after percutaneous coronary intervention: Learning from pathophysiology to optimize treatment

Endothelial dysfunction (EnD) is a hallmark feature of coronary artery disease (CAD), representing the key early step of atherosclerotic plaque development and progression. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is performed daily worldwide to treat symptomatic CAD, however a consistent proportion of patients remain symptomatic for angina despite otherwise successful revascularization. EnD plays a central role in the mechanisms of post-PCI angina, as it is strictly associated with both structural and functional abnormalities in the coronary arteries that may persist, or even accentuate, following PCI. The assessment of endothelial function in patients undergoing PCI might help to identify those patients at higher risk of future cardiovascular events and recurrent/persistent angina who might therefore benefit more from an intensive treatment. In this review, we address the role of EnD in determining angina after PCI, discussing its pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic approaches and therapeutic perspectives.

Evidence in Guidelines for Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

In this chapter, we focus on evidences in current guidelines for treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). In Part 1, diet and lifestyle management is discussed, which plays an important role in CAD risk control, including forming healthy dietary pattern, maintaining proper body weight, physical exercise, smoking cessation, and so on. Part 2 elaborated on revascularization strategies and medical treatments in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including specific AHA and ESC guidelines on ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). Part 3 discussed chronic stable coronary artery disease (SCAD), the treatment objective of which is a combination of both symptomatic and prognostic improvement. Yet many of the recommendations for SCAD are expert-based rather than evidence-based. Initial medical treatment is safe and beneficial for most patients. While cumulating studies have focused on optimizing pharmacological therapy (referring to nitrates, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, antiplatelet agents, ACEI/ARB, statins, etc.), education, habitual modification, and social support matters a lot for reducing cardiac morbidity and mortality. Patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms and complex lesions should be considered for revascularization. But practical management of revascularization shall take individual characteristics, preference, and compliance into consideration as well.

Ranolazine Induced Bradycardia, Renal Failure, and Hyperkalemia: A BRASH Syndrome Variant

Ranolazine is a well-known antianginal drug, that was first licensed for use in the United States in 2006. It was objectively shown to improve exercise capacity and to lengthen the time to symptom onset in patients with coronary artery disease. The most commonly reported side effects of ranolazine include dizziness, headache, constipation, and nausea. Here, we describe a case of bradycardia, hyperkalemia, and acute renal injury in the setting of ranolazine use. Our patient is an 88-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her medical comorbidities included hypertension, diabetes, CAD, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, hypothyroidism, and a history of cerebrovascular accident without any residual deficits. Her prescription regimen included amlodipine, furosemide, isosorbide mononitrate, levothyroxine, metformin, omeprazole, and ranolazine. Physical examination was remarkable for bradycardia and decreased breath sounds in the left lower lung field. Laboratory studies were significant for a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L and a serum creatinine level of 1.6 mg/dL. She was given insulin with dextrose, sodium polystyrene, and calcium gluconate in addition to fluids. Her bradycardia and renal function worsened over the next 24 hours. Ranolazine was discontinued. Metabolic derangements were treated appropriately. After 48 hours from presentation, potassium and renal function returned to baseline and her heart rate improved to a range of 60-100 bpm. She was discharged with an outpatient cardiology follow-up. Ranolazine treatment was not continued upon discharge. In summary, our case illustrates an association between ranolazine and renal failure induced hyperkalemia, leading to conduction delays in the myocardium. Though further studies are warranted, we suspect that this is a variant of the recently described BRASH syndrome. We propose that in cases such as ours, along with treatment of the hyperkalemia, medication review and removal of any offending agent should be considered.

Efficacy and safety of oral Guanxinshutong capsules in patients with stable angina pectoris in China: a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

To assess the efficacy and safety of oral Guanxinshutong (GXST) capsules in Chinese patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) in a prospective, multicenter, double-Blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02280850).

METHODS

Eligible patients were randomized 1:1 to the GXST or placebo group. Current standard antianginal treatment except for nitrate drugs was continued in both groups, who received an additional 4-week treatment of GXST capsule or placebo. Primary endpoint was the change from baseline in angina attack frequency after the 4-week treatment. Secondary endpoints included the reduction of nitroglycerin dose, score of Seatntle Agina Questionnaire, exercise tolerance test defined as time to onset of chest pain and ST-segment depression at least 1 mm greater than the resting one.

RESULTS

A total of 300 SAP patients from 12 centers in China were enrolled between January 2013 and October 2015, and they were randomly divided into the GXST group and the placebo group (150 patients in each group). Of whom, 287 patients completed the study (143 patients in the GXST group, 144 patients in the placebo group). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable. After 4-week treatment with GXST capsules, the number of angina attacks and the consumption of short-acting nitrates were significantly reduced. In addition, the quality of life of patients were also substantially improved in the GXST group. No significant differences in the time of onset of angina and 1-mm ST segment depression were noted between the two groups. 7 patients (4.1%) in the GXST group and 3 patients (2.1%) in the placebo group reported at least one adverse event, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

GXST capsules are beneficial for the treatment of SAP patients.

Effects of Exercise Training With and Without Ranolazine on Peak Oxygen Consumption, Daily Physical Activity, and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Stable Angina Pectoris

Ranolazine reduces angina frequency and increases exercise capacity. We hypothesized that exercise training with ranolazine would allow subjects to train at greater intensities, resulting in greater improvements in exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In a pilot study, subjects with chronic stable angina pectoris were randomized to ranolazine (n = 13) or placebo (n = 16). After a 2-week drug titration period, subjects participated in a 12-week exercise program. Peak VO₂, physical activity (via accelerometer), and HRQOL were assessed before and after training. After exercise training, peak VO₂increased twice as much with ranolazine (2.1 ± 3.4 ml/kg/min) as with placebo (0.9 ± 1.5) (both p <0.05). After exercise training, both groups significantly improved HRQOL score (p <0.05); however, the improvement with ranolazine (19 ± 21) was almost 50% greater than with placebo (13 ± 18). There was a significant decrease in maximal heart rate after training with ranolazine but not with placebo (group difference, p = 0.04). Oxygen pulse (peak VO₂/peak HR) increased in both groups after training; but, the increase was 4 times greater with ranolazine - resulting in a significant difference between groups (p = 0.044). In conclusion, patients with angina, the addition of ranolazine to an exercise program may improve aerobic fitness, physical activity, and HRQOL beyond the results of an exercise training program alone. Exercise training with ranolazine led to significantly greater increases in oxygen pulse, which is significantly correlated with stroke volume and is an independent predictor of mortality.

Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

Stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) is a leading cause of death in the United States and many other countries. The defining pathobiology is an imbalance between the metabolic demands of the myocardium and its oxygen supply, which most often results from coronary artery atherosclerosis. The classic presenting symptom of SIHD is angina, but clinical presentation varies greatly among patients. Since the last In the Clinic on SIHD in 2014, several new drugs have been approved to reduce ischemic complications, such as myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

Effect and Safety of Guanxinning Tablet () for Stable Angina Pectoris Patients with Xin (Heart)-Blood Stagnation Syndrome: A Randomized, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and safety of Guanxinning Tablet (, GXN) for the treatment of stable angina pectoris patients with Xin (Heart)-blood stagnation syndrome (XBSS).

METHODS

One hundred and sixty stable angina pectoris patients with XBSS were randomly assigned to receive GXN (80 cases) or placebo (80 cases, Guanxinning simulation tablets, mainly composed of lactose), 4 tablets (0.38 g/tablet), thrice daily for 12 weeks. After treatment, an exercise stress test (treadmill protocol), Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score, electrocardiogram (ECG), and nitroglycerin withdrawal rate were evaluated and compared in the patients between the two groups. Meanwhile, adverse events (AEs) were evaluated during the whole clinical trial.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the time extension of exercise duration in the GXN group increased 29.28 ±17.67 s after treatment (P>0.05); moreover, the change of exercise duration in the GXN group increased 63.10 ±96.96 s in subgroup analysis (P<0.05). The effective rates of angina pectoris, CM syndrome and ECG as well as nitroglycerin withdrawal rate were 81.33%, 90.67%, 45.76%, and 70.73%, respectively in the GXN group, which were all significantly higher than those in the control group (40.58%, 75.36%, 26.92%, 28.21%, respectively, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

GXN was a safe and effective treatment for stable angina pectoris patients with XBSS at a dose of 4 tablets, thrice daily.

Cardioprotective effect of ranolazine in nondiabetic and diabetic male rats subjected to isoprenaline-induced acute myocardial infarction involves modulation of AMPK and inhibition of apoptosis

Diabetes increases the sensitivity of myocardium to ischemic damage and impairs response of the myocardium to cardioprotective interventions. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential cardioprotective effect provided by ranolazine during myocardial infarction in nondiabetic and diabetic male rats. As AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been shown to be involved in the cellular response to ischemic injury, in this context, the present animal study evaluated the modulating role of ranolazine in the AMPK expression in isoprenaline-induced myocardial ischemic rat model. Male rats were divided into 2 experiments: experiment I and II (nondiabetic and diabetic rats) and assigned to normal control, saline control for isoprenaline, isoprenaline control, and ranolazine-treated groups. Ranolazine administration revealed effectiveness in attenuating the severity of isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in both nondiabetic and diabetic rats as revealed by ECG signs, histopathological score, and apoptotic markers via abrogating the increments in the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and modulating AMPK expression. Therefore, the current cardioprotective effect of ranolazine was, at least in part, mediated through inhibition of apoptosis and modulation of AMPK expression, encouraging considering the utility of ranolazine in protection from acute myocardial infarction.

Ranolazine Reduces Angina in Women with Ischemic Heart Disease: Results of an Open-Label, Multicenter Trial

Background: Persistent angina is prevalent in women, who more often present with atypical angina, and experience less relief from antianginal therapies. The impact of ranolazine on female-specific angina is unclear. A single-arm, open-label trial was conducted to quantify the impact of ranolazine on angina in women with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Materials and Methods: Women with IHD and ≥2 angina episodes/week were recruited from 30 U.S. sites. Angina and nitroglycerin (NTG) consumption were assessed using patient-reported diaries, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), Duke Activity Score Index (DASI), and Women's Ischemia Symptom Questionnaire (WISQ) at baseline and at 4 weeks of treatment with ranolazine 500 mg twice/day. A modified intent-to-treat analysis and parametric or nonparametric methods were used as appropriate to analyze changes. Results: Of 171 women enrolled, mean age was 65 ± 12 years. Of the 159 women included in the analysis, at week 4 compared to baseline, median angina frequency decreased with ranolazine treatment from 5.0 to 1.5 attacks/week and median change from baseline was -3.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.0 to -2.5; p ≤ 0.0001). Median NTG consumption decreased from 2.0 to 0.0 per week over the 4 weeks and median change was -1.0 (95% CI: -2.0 to -0.5; p < 0.0001). All five SAQ subscales showed mean improvements: physical limitation 9.2 (standard error [SE] 1.5; p < 0.0001), angina stability 31.8 (SE 2.7; p < 0.0001), angina frequency 17.7 (SE 1.6; p < 0.0001), treatment satisfaction 9.3 (SE 1.6; p < 0.0001), and disease perception 2.9 (SE 0.8; p < 0.0001). DASI score also improved 2.9 (SE 0.8; p = 0.0014). WISQ subscales also showed significant improvements (all p < 0.0001). Thirty-one women reported drug-related adverse events (AEs), predominantly mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: Women with IHD treated with ranolazine for 4 weeks experienced less angina measured by SAQ and WISQ. NTG use decreased, physical activity improved, and treatment satisfaction improved. AEs were consistent with prior reports.

Stable Angina Medical Therapy Management Guidelines: A Critical Review of Guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Most patients with stable angina can be managed with lifestyle changes, especially smoking cessation and regular exercise, along with taking antianginal drugs. Randomised controlled trials show that antianginal drugs are equally effective and none of them reduced mortality or the risk of MI, yet guidelines prefer the use of beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers as a first-line treatment. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of stable coronary artery disease provide classes of recommendation with levels of evidence that are well defined. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the management of stable angina provide guidelines based on cost and effectiveness using the terms first-line and second-line therapy. Both guidelines recommend using low-dose aspirin and statins as disease-modifying agents. The aim of this article is to critically appraise the guidelines’ pharmacological recommendations for managing patients with stable angina.

Ranolazine: Multifaceted Role beyond Coronary Artery Disease, a Recent Perspective

Ranolazine is a piperazine derivative approved as an antianginal. Primarily used as a second-line antianginal in stable coronary artery disease. Ranolazine blocks the late Na + current and prevents the rise of cytosolic calcium. It decreases myocardial wall tension and improves coronary blood flow. Ranolazine is effective in atrial fibrillation (AF) as an adjunct to electrical or pharmacological cardioversion. It can be used in combination with amiodarone or dronedarone. It has also been used in AF arising after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Role of ranolazine is also being evaluated in pulmonary arterial hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, and chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Ranolazine has some anti-glycemic effect and has shown a reduction of hemoglobin A1c in multiple trials. The antianginal effect of ranolazine has also been seen to be more in patients with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Ranolazine is being evaluated in patients with the peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Pilot studies have shown that ranolazine may be beneficial in neurological conditions with myotonia. The evidence-base on the use of ranolazine in various conditions is rapidly increasing with results of further trials eagerly awaited. Accumulating evidence may see ranolazine in routine clinical use for many conditions beyond its traditional role as an antianginal.

The Impact of Cell Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Refractory Angina

RATIONALE

Cell-based therapies are a novel potential treatment for refractory angina and have been found to improve markers of angina. However, the effects on mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) have not been definitively investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of stem cell treatment compared with optimal medical treatment for refractory angina by conducting an updated meta-analysis, looking at clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed of PubMed, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica database), Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov , Google Scholar databases of randomized controlled trials, and scientific session abstracts. Studies were deemed eligible if they met the following criteria: (1) full-length publications in peer-reviewed journals; (2) evaluated cell therapy use in patients with no further revascularisation options while on optimal medical treatment; (3) patients had ongoing angina, Canadian Cardiovascular Society class II-IV; and (4) included a placebo/control arm. We calculated risk ratios for all-cause mortality, combined MACE events. We assessed heterogeneity using χ² and I² tests. We identified 1191 citations with 8 randomized controlled trials meeting inclusion criteria involving 526 patients. Outcomes pooled were MACE, mortality, and indices of angina (angina episodes, Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class, exercise tolerance, and antianginal medications). Our analysis showed a decreased risk of both MACE (odds ratio, 0.41; CI, 0.25-0.70) and mortality (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.10-0.60) in cell-treated patients compared with patients on maximal medical therapy. This was supported by improvements in surrogate end points of anginal episodes, use of antianginal medications, Canadian Cardiovascular Society class, and exercise tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to improvements in indices of angina, cell-based therapies improve cardiovascular outcomes (mortality/MACE) in patients with refractory angina. Given the premature termination of the phase III study, this supports the need for further definitive trials. Prospero Registration : URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ . Unique identifier: CRD42018084257.

Comparison of coronary revascularization appropriateness for non-acute coronary syndrome cases under the 2017 update vs the 2012 appropriate use criteria

OBJECTIVES

To compare coronary revascularization appropriateness for non-acute coronary syndrome cases under the 2017 update vs the 2012 appropriate use criteria (AUC).

BACKGROUND

In 2017, the 2012 AUC for coronary revascularization were updated. We examined how applying these new 2017 updates to our previous inappropriate cases would change their appropriateness.

METHODS

We identified 50 cases of patients who underwent coronary revascularization for stable ischemic heart disease who were deemed inappropriate under the 2012 AUC. Two separate physicians reviewed the cases and applied a new AUC based on the 2017 AUC. Next, if there was a change, the reason was identified.

RESULTS

Average age was 64, majority being male (29; 58%). Forty-two (84%) were asymptomatic upon presentation. Most cases (27, 54%) dealt with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the right coronary artery. After applying the 2017 AUC, 34 of the 50 inappropriate failures (68%) would be changed from "inappropriate" to "may be appropriate care." Of the 34 cases, 25 (73.5%) were changed due to the new AUC no longer expecting the patient to be on ≥2 anti-angina medications prior to PCI. Of the 34 cases, eight (23.5%) were changed due to the new AUC expanding the use of non-invasive modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying the 2017 AUC led to a statistically higher number of cases being deemed "may be appropriate." The most common cause for the change included the change in requirement for anti-angina regimen and the expanded role of non-invasive modalities.

Effect of ranolazine on glycaemia in adults with and without diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background

Ranolazine is an antianginal drug reported to have hypoglycaemic effects.

Objectives

To assess the effect of ranolazine versus placebo on glycaemic control for adults with and without diabetes.

Methods

A systematic search of seven databases was conducted to identify all randomised controlled trials that compared the effect of ranolazine versus placebo on haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and/or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or incidence of hypoglycaemia. We used mean differences in HbA1c and FPG to express intervention effect estimates and analysed the data with random-effects model for meta-analyses using Revman 5.3.

Results

We identified seven trials including 6543 subjects to assess the effect of ranolazine on HbA1c and/or FPG. A separate trial that included 944 subjects was included to assess the effect of ranolazine on hypoglycaemia. The change in HbA1c for all patients was −0.36% (95% CI −0.57% to −0.15%; p=0.0004, I²=78%). In patients with diabetes, the change in HbA1c was −0.41% (95% CI −0.58% to −0.25%; p<0.00001, I²=65%). There was no significant difference in FPG between ranolazine and placebo groups (−2.58 mmol/L, 95% CI −7.02 to 1.85; p=0.25; I²=49%) or incidence of hypoglycaemia between ranolazine and placebo groups (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.26; p=0.61, I²=0%).

Conclusions

Our meta-analytic findings support the fact that ranolazine improves HbA1c without increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia. It therefore has a potential of having an additional benefit of improving glycaemic control in patients with chronic stable angina and diabetes.

Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Ranolazine Versus Conventional Antianginals Users Among Veterans With Chronic Stable Angina Pectoris

Real-world outcomes in patients with chronic stable angina treated with ranolazine and other antianginal medications as second- or third-line therapy are limited. In a historical cohort study of veterans with chronic stable angina, we compared time with coronary revascularization procedures, hospitalizations, and 1-year healthcare costs between new-users of ranolazine versus conventional antianginals (i.e., calcium channel blockers, β blockers, or long-acting nitrates) as second- or third-line. Weighted regression models calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) at up to 8-year follow-up, and adjusted incremental costs in the first year. Weighted groups comprised 4,699 ranolazine users and 31,815 conventional antianginal users. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) occurred more often in ranolazine users compared with conventional antianginal users (HR 1.16; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.08 to 1.25, p <0.001), and coronary artery bypass grafting occurred less often (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.00, p <0.046). All-cause and atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalizations were less common with ranolazine users compared with conventional users (all-cause: HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, p <0.010; AF:HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.82, p <0.001), and acute coronary syndrome was more common (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.27, p <0.042). Adjusted 1-year costs were $24,517 in ranolazine users and $24,798 in conventional users (difference, $-280; 95% CI $-1,742 to $1,181, p = 0.71). In conclusion, ranolazine users had lower rates of coronary artery bypass grafting and all-cause and AF hospitalizations, but higher rates of percutaneous coronary intervention and hospitalizations due to acute coronary syndrome compared with conventional antianginal users. Healthcare costs were similar between ranolazine and conventional antianginal users.

Quality of health economic evaluations for the ACC/AHA stable ischemic heart disease practice guideline: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) recently published a rigorous framework to guide integration of economic data into clinical guidelines. We assessed the quality of economic evaluations in a major ACC/AHA clinical guidance report.

METHODS

We systematically identified cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) of RCTs cited in the ACC/AHA 2012 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease. We extracted: (1) study identifiers; (2) parent RCT information; (3) economic analysis characteristics; and (4) study quality using the Quality of Health Economic Studies instrument (QHES).

RESULTS

Quality scores were categorized as high (≥75 points) or low (<75 points). Of 1,266 citations in the guideline, 219 were RCTs associated with 77 CEAs. Mean quality score was 81 (out of 100) and improved over time, though 29.9% of studies were low-quality. Cost-per-QALY was the most commonly reported primary outcome (39.0%). Low-quality studies were less likely to report study perspective, use appropriate time horizons, or address statistical and clinical uncertainty. Funding was overwhelmingly private (83%). A detailed methodological assessment of high-quality studies revealed domains of additional methodological issues not identified by the QHES.

CONCLUSIONS

Economic evaluations of RCTs in the 2012 ACC/AHA ischemic heart disease guideline largely had high QHES scores but methodological issues existed among "high-quality" studies. Because the ACC/AHA has generally been more systematic in its integration of scientific evidence compared to other professional societies, it is likely that most societies will need to proceed more cautiously in their integration of economic evidence.

Ranolazine in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic angina: A cost-effectiveness analysis and assessment of health-related quality-of-life

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with a high burden of angina. Ranolazine has been shown to reduce angina frequency versus placebo in patients with T2D and stable angina. We sought to estimate the cost-effectiveness of ranolazine when added to standard-of-care (SoC) versus SoC alone in patients with T2D and stable, but symptomatic coronary disease despite treatment with 1-2 antianginals.

METHODS

A Markov model was developed and evaluated using cohort simulation. The model utilized a US societal perspective, 1-month cycle length and 1-year time horizon and was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of ranolazine versus SoC. Patients entered the model in 1 of 4 angina frequency health states based on baseline Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency scores (100 = no; 61-99 = monthly; 31-60 = weekly; 0-30 = daily) and could transition between health states (first cycle only) or to death (any cycle) based on probabilities derived from the Type 2 Diabetes Evaluation of Ranolazine in Subjects with Chronic Stable Angina trial.

RESULTS

Our model estimated patients treated with ranolazine lived a mean of 0.728 quality adjusted life years (QALYs) at a cost of $16,654. Those not receiving ranolazine lived a mean of 0.702 QALYs and incurred costs of $15,476. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the addition of ranolazine to SoC was $45,308/QALY. Short Form-36 data suggest improvements in patients' bodily pain drove the gain in QALYs associated with ranolazine (2.73 versus 3.96, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our model suggests the addition of ranolazine to SoC is likely cost-effective from a US societal perspective for the treatment of patients with T2D and stable, symptomatic coronary disease despite treatment with 1-2 antianginals.

Patient characteristics associated with treatment response in patients receiving salvianolate injection for stable angina

OBJECTIVE

To explore patient characteristics associated with treatment response in patients receiving salvianolate injection for stable angina.

METHODS

An analysis was conducted of data from a multicenter, phase IV clinical trial undertaken in China that enrolled 2150 patients hospitalized for stable angina from 50 hospitals. The treatment outcomes were changes of angina severity and nitroglycerin use between baseline and the last day of treatment. We used logistic regression models to explore patient characteristics associated with the treatment response.

RESULTS

Patients who were overweight or obese (OR_a 1.20, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.44), present with hypertension (OR_a 1.23, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.49), experienced with 3 or more episodes of angina per week (OR_a 1.77, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.17), or concomitantly using antiplatelet agents (OR_a 1.44, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.78) were associated with better treatment response defined with the change of angina severity. Those of overweight or obesity (OR_a 1.57, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.12) or concomitantly using calcium antagonists (OR_a 2.38, 95% CI 1.39 to 4.08) fared better treatment response according to discontinuation or reduction of nitroglycerin use.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients diagnosed with stable angina and receiving salvianolate injection might fare better treatment response if they were overweight or obese, experienced with hypertension, three or more episodes of angina per week, or concomitantly using antiplatelet agents and calcium antagonists.

Current Indications for Stenting: Symptoms or Survival CME

The major goals of treating ischemic heart disease are to reduce angina, improve quality of life, and ultimately reduce mortality. While medical therapy can effectively address these aims, there is still much research and debate about the role of percutaneous coronary intervention in the treatment spectrum-specifically, whether or not stenting prolongs life or simply treats symptoms without impacting survival. The data supporting revascularization for survival benefit came from patients who underwent bypass graft surgery prior to the introduction of effective medical management. Although both physicians and patients continue to believe in the life-saving ability of coronary stenting, little data exist to support this belief outside of when used during an acute myocardial infarction. Strategy trials designed to test the benefit of coronary stenting have limitations that have curbed physicians' willingness to accept the results, but they provide the best evidence for how to optimally manage these patients. In this article, we explore the data supporting the use of coronary stenting for various indications and the questions that remain to be answered.

Ranolazine: A true pluripotent cardiovascular drug or jack of all trades, master of none?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the majority of patients with CVD are treated with interventional procedures, a substantial number require medical therapy in terms of both prognosis and symptomatic relief. However, commonly used agents such as β-blockers and calcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure in patients whose resting pressures are often already low. Ranolazine is a promising agent that does not have significant effects on blood pressure or heart rate. Use of this drug has been documented in various cardiovascular conditions, including ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and arrhythmias. This review article aimed to examine current evidence on the use of ranolazine in various cardiovascular conditions in order to determine whether it is a true pluripotent cardiovascular agent or, on the other hand, a "jack of all trades, master of none."

Impact of ranolazine on ventricular arrhythmias - A systematic review

Ranolazine is a new medication for the treatment of refractory angina. However, except its anti-anginal properties, it has been found to act as an anti-arrhythmic. The aim of our systematic review is to present the existing data about the impact of ranolazine in ventricular arrhythmias. We searched MEDLINE and Cochrane databases as well clinicaltrials.gov until September 1, 2017 to find all studies (clinical trials, observational studies, case reports/series) reported data about the impact of ranolazine in ventricular arrhythmias. Our search revealed 14 studies (3 clinical trials, 2 observational studies, 8 case reports, 1 case series). These data reported a beneficial impact of ranolazine in ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, premature ventricular beats, and ICD interventions in different clinical settings. The existing data highlight the anti-arrhythmic properties of ranolazine in ventricular arrhythmias.

Ranolazine for Angina in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Ranolazine is an antianginal and works by inhibiting late-sodium current (INaL). However, its use is limited mostly to patients with coronary artery disease. However, literature has shown its potential benefit in relieving angina in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hereby, we discuss two cases where ranolazine led to improvement in angina refractory to beta-blockers. In conclusion, ranolazine can be considered as a potential antianginal drug in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy refractory to beta-blockers.

Daily Activity Measured With Wearable Technology as a Novel Measurement of Treatment Effect in Patients With Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

BACKGROUND

Digital wearable devices provide a "real-world" assessment of physical activity and quantify intervention-related changes in clinical trials. However, the value of digital wearable device-recorded physical activity as a clinical trial outcome is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Because late sodium channel inhibition (ranolazine) improves stress laboratory exercise duration among angina patients, we proposed that this benefit could be quantified and translated during daily life by measuring digital wearable device-determined step count in a clinical trial.

METHODS

We conducted a substudy in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of participants with angina and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) with no obstructive coronary artery disease to evaluate the value of digital wearable device monitoring. Ranolazine or placebo were administered (500-1000 mg twice a day) for 2 weeks with a subsequent 2-week washout followed by crossover to ranolazine or placebo (500-1000 mg twice a day) for an additional 2 weeks. The outcome of interest was within-subject difference in Fitbit Flex daily step count during week 2 of ranolazine versus placebo during each treatment period. Secondary outcomes included within-subject differences in angina, quality of life, myocardial perfusion reserve, and diastolic function.

RESULTS

A total of 43 participants were enrolled in the substudy and 30 successfully completed the substudy for analysis. Overall, late sodium channel inhibition reduced within-subject daily step count versus placebo (mean 5757 [SD 3076] vs mean 6593 [SD 339], P=.01) but did not improve angina (Seattle Angina Questionnaire-7 [SAQ-7]) (P=.83). Among the subgroup with improved angina (SAQ-7), a direct correlation with increased step count (r=.42, P=.02) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

We report one of the first studies to use digital wearable device-determined step count as an outcome variable in a placebo-controlled crossover trial of late sodium channel inhibition in participants with CMD. Our substudy demonstrates that late sodium channel inhibition was associated with a decreased step count overall, although the subgroup with angina improvement had a step count increase. Our findings suggest digital wearable device technology may provide new insights in clinical trial research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01342029; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01342029 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uyd6B2PO).