title: Felodipine. A calcium-inhibiting vasodilator in refractory hypertension.
abstract: 12 patients with primary hypertension not adequately controlled on combined treatment with diuretics, beta-adrenergic blocking drugs and hydralazine were included in the study. The patients were hospitalised and hydralazine discontinued. The diuretic and beta-blocking medication was given about 1 hour prior to the short term experiments and, following baseline measurements, an oral solution of felodipine (0.075-0.1 mg/kg) was ingested. Cardiac output was measured (dye dilution technique) and continuous monitoring of intra-aortic blood pressure (brachial artery) was performed. In 10 patients, changes in renal plasma flow (para-aminohippuric acid clearance) and glomerular filtration rate (51Cr-EDTA-clearance) were followed over a short period, and in 6 patients repeated after 5 to 7 months. Plasma renin activity (radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I) was followed, as was plasma concentration of felodipine. A significant hypotensive response was seen only 15 minutes after intake of felodipine. The maximal response occurred after 30 minutes when mean arterial blood pressure was reduced by 24% (from 132 to 102 mm Hg). There was a linear relationship between the change in mean arterial blood pressure and log plasma concentration of felodipine. Cardiac output increased from 5.1 +/- 1.5 to 6.6 +/- 2.6 L/min (p less than 0.01), partly because of increased heart rate from 56 +/- 7.9 to 65 +/- 9.5 beats/min (p less than 0.01) and partly due to increased stroke volume from 93 +/- 25 to 103 +/- 34 ml/beat (p less than 0.05). Renal plasma flow increased significantly (p less than 0.05) from 343 +/- 138 ml/min to 391 +/- 154 ml/min and 400 +/- 149 ml/min, while glomerular filtration rate did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015736:Felodipine; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012083:Renin; D009543:Nifedipine; D015736:Felodipine