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The antianginal effect of three drugs (isosorbide dinitrate-nifedipine-oxprenolol) and of two drug associations (isosorbide dinitrate-oxprenolol; nifedipine-oxprenolol) was studied in six patients, by means of a bicycle ergometer exercise test. The study was double blind; placebo was also included in the test. Treatments were administered according to the sequence of a 6 X 6 "balanced" latin-square design. After treatment with isosorbide dinitrate and nifedipine a significant delay in the appearance of angina and of signs of electrocardiographic positivity was observed while after treatment with oxprenolol a significant delay was noticed only in the time of appearance of electrocardiographic positivity. On the contrary, placebo did not determine significant changes in the studied parameters. The best results were achieved with the associations oxprenolol-isosorbide dinitrate and oxprenolol-nifedipine. With these treatments, angina appeared during the exercise test in only two patients while the others had to stop the test because of muscular exhaustion; electrocardiographic signs of ischemia did not appear in one patient. The favourable results of the associations oxprenolol-isosorbide dinitrate and oxprenolol-nifedipine can be explained by the pharmacologic effect of these drugs and by their complementary action.

203 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction performed a cycloergometric submaximal exercise test before leaving hospital. The causes for stopping the test were fatigue or submaximal heart rate (24,1%), angina (14,2%), ischaemic S-T changes (28,08%), arrhythmias (4,9%) and changes of blood pressure (17,2%). No important complications were observed. The test proved useful for the definition of more objective criteria in order to prescribe an individualized rehabilitation programme. Above all it was possible to prescribe treatment which would not have otherwise been prescribed at the time of discharge. The short term prognostic value is not, however quite clear as yet.