Role of calcium channel blockade in chronic hypertension following successful management of hypertensive emergency.
Nifedipine is known to reduce blood pressure for both short- and long-term periods. We have shown that nifedipine can be given safely for a short-term period to patients with severe hypertension in an outpatient setting, that its efficacy can be retained with long-term follow-up therapy, and that nifedipine is safe in the presence of cardiomegaly, acting without precipitating a decrease in ejection fraction when used for short-term blood pressure reduction. The acute hypotensive effect of sublingual nifedipine can predict the efficacy of subsequent follow-up therapy with oral nifedipine, so that there is a sustained long-term hypotensive effect.
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011187:Posture; D013997:Time Factors
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine