The effects of topical and oral slow-release nitroglycerin on anterior myocardial infarction size assessed by precordial ST segment mapping.

The effect of slow-release nitroglycerin and nitroglycerin ointment in reducing anterior myocardial infarction size was assessed in 18 patients by means of epicardial mapping. The sum of all ST elevations (sigma ST), the number of leads with ST elevations greater than 1 mm (NST), the sum of the ST segment elevations of those leads with ST elevations greater than 1 mm (sigma STmm) and the average ST segment elevations (ST) were evaluated. No statistically significant difference between the two forms of nitroglycerin and placebo was found over a 72-h period. These data suggest that no benefit in terms of reduction in myocardial infarction size, assessed by epicardial mapping, is obtained from therapy with oral slow release nitroglycerin and nitroglycerin ointment.