Pentaerythritol tetranitrate metabolism

The biotransformation of gylcerol trinitrate by strains of Bacillus thuringiensis/cereus or Enterobacter agglomerans (Meng et al. 1995), by strains of Pseudomonas sp., and some Entero-bacteriaceae (Blehert et al. 1997) involves the expected successive loss of nitrite with the formation of glycerol. The biotransformation of pentaerythritol tetranitrate by Enterobacter cloacae proceeds comparably with metabolism of two hydroxymethyl groups produced by loss of nitrite to the aldehyde (Binks et al. 1996). 

Russek has found isosorbide dinitrate and pentaerythritol tetranitrate to produce a significant improvement in exercise tolerance as well as exercise ECG tests.A wide variety of nitrate esters have been found to provide relief of angina pectoris. There is no information, however, to suggest a difference in the basic pharmacological action of these compounds. Such differences are presumably due to differences in absorption and rates of metabolism. 

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