Objectives 1. to investigate trimetazidine' effect on cardiac function in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy;

2. to investigate trimetazidine' effect on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure;

Methods 1. Analyse data of patients with chronic congestive heart failure, caused by ischaemic cardiomyopathy who were admitted into PLA 252 Hospital from October 2010 to October 2011. The patients were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. The control group were treated with ACE inhibitors (ACEI), β blockers, diuretics, digoxin and nitrates and other conventional treatment. The treatment group was treated with routine method combined with trimetazidine (TMZ, 20 mg, 3/days). 2.6 min walk test (Using the method proposed by Bittner).

2. BNP (measure BNP levels using multifunctional immunoassay.

3. Left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (using Colour Doppler ultrasound).

Results Compared with control group after the 6 months' treatment, cardiac ejection fraction and exercise tolerance of the trimetazidine group improved, while left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and BNP average level lowered, which were all significant, (p<0.01).

Conclusions Trimetazidine can improve heart function and exercise tolerance in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy;