Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels in essential hypertension after treatment with verapamil.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term effects of the selective Ca2+-blocker verapamil on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally in a daily dose of 300 mg for 30 days. At the end of this clinical trial, plasma ANP levels increased by 16.14% despite the drop in blood pressure while left atrial and ventricular diameters remained unchanged. These findings indicate that the increase of ANP plasma levels is not the result of a mechanical load on the left cardiac chambers but the result of a pharmacological action. These observations also indicate that verapamil exerts part of its antihypertensive action by increasing ANP plasma levels.
Kokkas
B
B
Departments of Second Cardiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thesssaloniki, Greece.
Kotridis
P
P
Karamouzis
M
M
Kanonidis
I
I
Sakadamis
G
G
Dadous
G
G
Haritos
S
S
Kyriakoui
P
P
Theodossiadis
Papadopoulos
P C
PC
Mirtsou-Fidani
V
V
Papadopoulos
C L
CL
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D014700:Verapamil