title: Effect of calcium channel antagonists on renal function in hypertensive heart transplant recipients.
abstract: Orthotopic heart transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive regimens based on cyclosporine have a high incidence of hypertension. Cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity characterized by afferent glomerular arteriolar vasoconstriction also develops in these patients. Calcium channel antagonists produce afferent glomerular arteriolar vasodilation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) dilate the efferent arteriole and have been suggested to decrease glomerular filtration rate in subjects taking cyclosporine. To test the hypothesis that calcium channel antagonists would improve glomerular filtration rate in heart transplant patients receiving ACEI treatment, we reviewed the charts of our patients whose treatment for hypertension had been changed from an ACEI to a calcium channel antagonist. A change in renal function was assessed by the average of serum creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine clearance within 3 months before and after the change from ACEI to calcium channel antagonist. Blood pressure was assessed on two different occasions before and after conversion to calcium channel antagonist. The data were analyzed by a paired Student t test. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels decreased significantly when patients were treated with calcium channel antagonists (p < 0.05). Creatinine clearance increased in all patients when the treatment was converted to a calcium channel antagonist (CCA) (ACEI = 56.4 +/- 19.3 ml/min versus CCA = 71.06 +/- 23.77, N = 9; p < 0.005). A 5-mm Hg decrease occurred in mean arterial pressure when treatment was changed from ACEI to calcium channel antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Ky. 40292.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganzel
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003404:Creatinine