title: [Calcium antagonists in cardiovascular diseases].
abstract: By blocking the inward transmembrane calcium current and opposing the effects of increased intracellular ionised calcium, calcium antagonists exert vascular and myocardial effects which are useful therapeutic tools. Coronary and peripheral vascular relaxation results in an increase in coronary flow and a reduction of the afterload and, therefore, of myocardial oxygen consumption. In some cases, negative myocardial inotropic and chronotropic effects also reduce myocardial oxygen requirements. Spastic angina is the indication of choice of all calcium antagonists whereas, to date, verapamil and diltiazem have been shown to be effective in stable angina and, in the post-infarction situation, diltiazem and verapamil decrease the number of cardiovascular events, and verapamil alone has been shown to reduce mortality. All calcium antagonists have been shown to be effective in hypertension and most have a protective effect on the target organs. The main fields of research concern atherosclerosis, the primary prevention of myocardial infarction and the study of molecules which can be used in heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Service de pharmacologie, CHU de Rouen.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thuillez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers