title: Effects of nicardipine on intimal-medial thickness and arterial distensibility in hypertensive patients. Preliminary results after 6 months.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nicardipine, at the dosage of 80 mg/day in two administrations, on blood pressure, intimal-media thickness of the common carotid artery and on arterial distensibility after 6 months of therapy. The study population consisted of 23 patients, 13 male and 10 female, mean age 61.7 +/- 10.1 years, with systolic blood pressure 170.4 +/- 14.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 98.3 +/- 5.7 mmHg, affected by essential arterial hypertension of slight to moderate degree. Twenty-three subjects underwent high resolution B-mode echotomography of the common carotid artery, performed twice by the same operator within a one-week period. Treatment for 6 months with slow release Nicardipine at a dosage of 80 mg in two daily administrations was seen to be efficient in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. It also reduced the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. The results of our study show that 6 month's treatment with slow-release Nicardipine at 80 mg in two daily administrations, in effective reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, and, to a slightly significant degree, in reducing the value of the intimal-medial thickness of the common carotid. Naturally the data which emerge from our study are preliminary and require a definitive analysis at the end the study, which is foreseen after a two year period from the enrolment of at least one hundred patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Villa Malta Hospital, Sarno (SA), Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guarini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cicatiello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iovino
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tagliamonte
mesh_terms: D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009529:Nicardipine