title: Effects of nifedipine retard on heart rate and autonomic balance in patients with ischemic heart disease.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of nifedipine retard on heart rate and autonomic balance in patients with ischemic heart disease. Fourteen patients with ischemic heart disease (12 men and two women; mean age 64 years) were administered nifedipine retard at a daily dose of 20-40 mg. Changes in heart rate and autonomic balance were studied using Holter monitoring before and after 12 weeks of nifedipine therapy Heart rate was unchanged during sleep but was higher during the day after nifedipine retard administration. The high frequency power spectrum of heart rate variability (indicating parasympathetic activity) was lower during the day after nifedipine retard therapy but was unchanged during sleep. The low frequency power to high frequency power ratio, indicating sympathetic activity was unchanged during the day and during sleep. Nifedipine retard increased the heart rate of patients with ischemic heart disease only during the day and reduced parasympathetic activity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute, Tokyo, Japan. yw6h-stu@asahi-net.or.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Long-Tai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009543:Nifedipine