title: Slowing of mitral valve annular calcium in systemic hypertension by nifedipine and comparisons with enalapril and atenolol.
abstract: Mitral annular calcium (MAC) is a condition that often occurs in patients with systemic hypertension. To evaluate the effectiveness of nifedipine in preventing MAC, 223 patients with systemic hypertension of recent onset and without MAC were selected and randomly enrolled in 3 groups: group 1 (76 patients) received nifedipine; group 2 (72 patients) received enalapril; and group 3 (75 patients) received atenolol. After 5 years, these treatments significantly reduced systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p < 0.05) blood pressure (BP) in 3 treated groups. M-mode echocardiography revealed MAC only in 2 patients in the nifedipine group (2.6%), in 13 in the enalapril group (18%) and in 15 in the atenolol group (20%). The degree of MAC was mild (< 5 mm) in the 2 patients in group 1, in 5 of the 13 in group 2, and in 6 of the 15 in the group 3, whereas it was severe (> 5 mm) in the remaining 8 in the enalapril group and in the other 9 in the atenolol group. There was also a significant correlation in the degree of MAC, left atrial enlargement and mitral regurgitation. In addition, atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular conduction defects were associated with severe MAC. These results indicate that nifedipine is an effective drug both in the long-term management of systemic hypertension and in preventing or delaying MAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, II University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciapuoti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaspro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galzerano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lapiello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001262:Atenolol; D004656:Enalapril; D009543:Nifedipine