Role of cardioselectivity and intrinsic sympathomimetic activity in beta-blocking drugs in chronic coronary artery disease.

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents with various ancillary properties have been found valuable in the management of patients with hypertension, angina pectoris and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. They are also used to reduce the risk of a subsequent coronary event after a myocardial infarction. In approximately 2 decades, the role of these agents in the patient with angina pectoris has expanded from one primarily involving the adjunctive treatment of the patient refractory to other drugs, to the present, in which beta-adrenergic blockers are the most common prophylactic agent prescribed for this indication.