Intracoronary Administration of Nitrates

Until 1975 nitrates were given directly into the coronary arteries only for clinical research. This was performed to evaluate directly the effects of nitrates on the coronary arteries and myocardial contractility and to differentiate direct from systemic mechanisms of the effects of nitrates. In the past decade, however, intracoronary administration of nitrates, mainly nitroglycerin, has frequently been used as part of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including cardiac catheterization, thrombolysis and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.