Which pharmacotherapy is commonly used for treating angina?

Nitrates are commonly used as a first-line pharmacotherapy for treating angina due to their ability to dilate blood vessels, which enhances blood flow to the heart muscle. This vasodilation reduces myocardial oxygen demand by decreasing preload and afterload, alleviating the pain associated with angina. Nitrates are effective in both stable and unstable angina episodes and can be administered in various forms, including sublingual tablets, transdermal patches, and intravenous formulations.

While other classes of medications, such as ACE inhibitors, statins, and antiplatelets, play important roles in the overall management of cardiovascular disease, they do not directly relieve the symptoms of angina in the same manner as nitrates. ACE inhibitors primarily assist in managing blood pressure and reducing heart failure risk, statins are focused on cholesterol reduction to lower cardiovascular risk, and antiplatelets are used to prevent thrombotic events. Therefore, nitrates are the most appropriate choice for immediate relief of anginal symptoms, making them the correct answer in this context.