Conditions: Stable Angina
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 7
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that application of topical capsaicin in patients with stable angina will result in improved exercise tolerance and reduced cardiac ischemia.

Detailed description:
Patients with stable angina on medical therapy who are capable of exercising on a treadmill and have an interpretable ECG for ischemia will be enrolled in the study, which entails performing two treadmill tests approximately one week apart following topical treatment with placebo cream or topical capsaicin (randomized in crossover fashion). Patients will be monitored for exercise tolerance, anginal symptoms, ECG for ischemia/arrhythmia, and hemodynamic responses.

Arms:
arm 1: 0.1% capsaicin cream spread 8cm x 15cm on abdomen, once, 45 minutes prior to exercise arm 2: Inactive cream, 4cm spread 8cm x 15cm on the abdomen, once, 45 minutes prior to exercise

Interventions: intervention 1: Capsaicin intervention 2: Placebo cream
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 0.1% topical cream,4cm spread over 8cm x 15cm area on skin, one time, 45 minutes prior to exercise intervention 2: cream, 4cm spread over 8cm x 15cm area of skin

Protocol document: