[Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of sustained-release nifedipine in arterial hypertension. Continuous monitoring of arterial pressure].
The anti-hypertensive efficacy of slow-release nifedipine 20 mg twice a day was investigated in 20 consecutive patients (13 females and 7 males, mean age 50.3 +/- 9.9 years) with mild to moderate hypertension (mean casual BP 162.2 +/- 7.5/103.1 +/- 4.7 mmHg) continuous blood pressure monitoring and routine laboratory tests were performed before and after three months of continuous therapy, whereas casual blood pressure was assessed after one and three months of therapy.


RESULTS
In 4 patients, all female, adverse effects (headache) led to discontinuation of therapy. In the other 16 patients casual blood pressure decreased to 149.8 +/- 12.7/95.3 +/- 6.6 after one month and to 148.7 +/- 11.7/91.4 +/- 7.1 after three months (p less than 0.05 and became normal after three months in 11 patients (68%). Continuous blood pressure monitoring showed a significant fall in systolic and diastolic day time blood pressure (from 132.8 +/- 6.0/87.9 +/- 5.1 - p less than 0.02) and in systolic night time blood pressure (from 117.1 +/- 6.6 to 107.1 +/- 5.1 - p less than 0.02) without changing the shape of the circadian profiles. No significant changes in systolic blood pressure variability were observed. There was no correlation between pretreatment blood pressure levels and the extent of blood pressure fall during therapy. Heart rate, body weight and all biochemical parameters remains unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings confirm the antihypertensive efficacy of slow release nifedipine. This study does not concord with other reports regarding the tolerability of this drug in women. However the small number of patients does not allow any firm conclusions to be drawn.
D'Este
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Servizio di Cardiologia, Ospedale di Mirano, Venezia.
Mantovan
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Pascotto
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P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009543:Nifedipine
Valutazione dell'efficacia e tollerabilità della nifedipina ritardo nell'ipertensione arteriosa. Studio con monitoraggio continuo incruento della pressione arteriosa.