Nicorandil is a vasodilator used in Europe and Asia to treat patients with angina and ischemic heart disease. Some patients may develop oral ulcerations during therapy.
Mechanism of primary action: potassium channel activator, with relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Venous dilation reduces cardiac work by reducing preload.
Clinical features:
(1) The patient develops one or more oral ulcers after starting therapy. These may occur spontaneously or after minor trauma.
(2) Patients with ulcers are often taking higher doses of nicorandil.
(3) The ulcers are nonhealing unless the drug is stopped. Healing may take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. The ulcers are often refractory to surgery.
(4) Patients rarely may have concurrent anal ulcers or ulcers elsewhere in the GI tract.
(5) Diagnosis requires exclusion of other causes (oral carcinoma, syphilis, deep fungal infection, etc.)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
