Longevity of the Placebo Effect in the Therapeutic Angiogenesis and Laser Myocardial Revascularization Trials in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

The long-term beneficial effects of placebo therapy were evaluated in angiogenesis and laser myocardial revascularization trials in patients who had end-stage coronary heart disease. Improvements in mean angina class, exercise treadmill time, and quality of life were mostly maintained at 30 ± 6 months of follow-up. Persistence of effect cannot be used as evidence of efficacy, and double-blinded trials are essential in this patient population.