Isosorbide monitrates (IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN), hepatic metabolites of isosorbide dinitrate, inhibit platelet function in vitro very differently, with IS-2-MN being much more potent than IS-5-MN. To assess their antiplatelet properties in vivo and to compare time and dosage requirements, we infused both IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN for 30 minutes, on 2 separate days, into nine patients with stable coronary artery disease, at rates of 4 mg/hr (n = 4) and 8 mg/hr (n = 5). Two additional patients received IS-5-MN at 16 mg/hr. Platelet aggregation and thromboxane (TX) B2 generation in response to various agonists, drug plasma concentrations, and blood pressure were monitored throughout the study. A significant decrease in platelet aggregation and TXB2 production by adenosine diphosphate and adrenaline occurred in seven of nine patients receiving IS-2-MN and in 7 of 11 patients receiving IS-5-MN. Response was dose related, with more patients responding at 8 mg/hr to IS-2-MN (five of five) than to IS-5-MN (three of five), and was maximum at the end of the infusion time, corresponding to peak plasma levels. Patients responding to drug infusions with an inhibition of platelet function were characterized by a greater vascular responsiveness compared to nonresponders, since the decrease in systolic blood pressure (mean +/- SEM) was significantly greater in the former (15.4 +/- 3.2) than in the latter (2.5 +/- 2.1, p less than 0.05). Therefore both mononitrates, when administered at infusion rates between 8 and 16 mg/hr, are accompanied by a consistent inhibition of adenosine diphosphate- and adrenaline-induced aggregation and TX generation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)