title: Actions of nisoldipine in cardiovascular disease.
abstract: The potent systemic and coronary vasodilatory properties of nisoldipine have been demonstrated in several studies in patients with cardiovascular disease. The increase in cardiac output results from enhancements of both stroke volume and heart rate, while coronary blood supply increases in excess of demand. There is evidence that nisoldipine favourably affects several indicators of myocardial ischemia during exercise such as time to onset of anginal complaints and ST segment changes. Furthermore, in patients with elevated left ventricular filling pressures and reduced cardiac pump function the drug tends to normalize these parameters, thus opening new avenues for the treatment of patients with heart failure. The effect of nisoldipine on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias has not yet been studied in patients, but experimental evidence shows an antifibrillatory activity at doses which may, however, not be clinically applicable. Finally, in healthy men, nisoldipine partially inhibits platelet aggregation. This, together with a potential antiatherosclerotic effect, could be of additional benefit to patients with coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Van Woerkens
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roelandt
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hugenholtz
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Verdouw
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015737:Nisoldipine
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015737:Nisoldipine; D009543:Nifedipine