Age-related antihypertensive and haemodynamic effects of verapamil SR: clinical results and effects on atrial natriuretic peptide.
The antihypertensive effect of the calcium-antagonist verapamil was investigated in two groups of patients, adult hypertensives (AH, less than 65 years of age) and elderly hypertensives (EH, greater than 65 years of age), who were treated with 240 mg p.o. sustained-release (SR) verapamil for 4 months. Arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced in both groups: the responders' rate was 65% in the AH group and 82% in the EG group. The heart rate was slightly but not significantly reduced. An improvement in cardiac haemodynamics was observed [cardiac index (CI), from 3.00 +/- 0.51 to 3.25 +/- 0.83 ml min-1 m-2 in AH and from 2.35 +/- 1.08 to 3.04 +/- 0.86 ml min-1 m-2 in EG]. We also evaluated the plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) before and after treatment; ANP levels increased significantly only in the EH group. No serious side effects occurred. In conclusion, verapamil SR provided effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive treatment in both adult and elderly patients.
Antonicelli
R
R
Hypertension Center, I.N.R.C.A. (Italian National Research Centre on Aging), Ancona, Italy.
Tomassini
P F
PF
Galletti
P
P
Gambini
C
C
Marini
M
M
Amadio
L
L
Paciaroni
E
E
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D014700:Verapamil