title: Antihypertensive action of calcium blockade in hypertensive patients with chronic renal disease.
abstract: The concentration of ionic calcium (Ca2+ in the smooth muscular cells of the resistance vessels is a determining factor of their contraction. It depends on the influx of Ca2+ to the interior of the cells through the calcium channels in the sarcolemma. The effect of a specific Ca2+-channel blocking agent - nifedipine - on arterial hypertension in a group of 18 patients with chronic renal hypertension is reported in this study. The combination of nifedipine and propranolol in the control of hypertension in 6 of these patients in a long-term follow-up was also studied. It was concluded: (1) Ca2+ blockade had a rapid and powerful antihypertensive effect in all patients; (2) the antihypertensive effect was higher with high initial blood pressure levels; this fact was especially evident and appeared particularly useful in hypertensive emergencies; (3) in some patients, the action of nifedipine was dose-dependent; (4) nifedipine had a short-lived action; (5) the combination nifedipine-propranolol was efficient in the long-term control of hypertension.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol; D009543:Nifedipine