title: Sodium intake does not influence the effect of verapamil in hypertensive patients with mild renal insufficiency.
abstract: Information is limited regarding the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs in patients with hypertension associated with renal insufficiency. To address this question, a group of 14 outpatients with essential hypertension and mild renal insufficiency received slow release verapamil 240 mg/day for 14 days after a 4-week washout period. Patients were randomly assigned to a low (4 g/day) or high (11 g/day) salt diet, and crossed over to the alternative diet after 7 days. 24-Hour blood pressure monitoring was performed at the end of the washout period and after 7 and 14 days during verapamil treatment. Verapamil induced a significant fall in mean 24-hour blood pressure that was similar for patients on both diets (p < 0.01). As expected, natriuresis increased significantly during high sodium intake (p < 0.01), and bodyweight fell significantly when sodium intake was reduced (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance remained stable. These results indicate that the antihypertensive effect of verapamil is independent of sodium intake even in the presence of mild renal insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Hypertensive Unit, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ruilope
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Casal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alcázar
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Férnandez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lahera
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodicio
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014700:Verapamil