title: Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with Pycnogenol.
abstract: The presence of edema in different phases and stages of essential hypertension may be due to antihypertensive treatment. Some drugs may cause edema by inducing vasodilatation, increasing the capillary exchange surface and capillary filtration. Pycnogenol has an important anti-edema effect in diabetic microangiopathy and chronic venous insufficiency. This 8-week study evaluated capillary filtration in 2 comparable treatment groups with hypertension treated with a calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor to define its efficacy in preventing edema caused by antihypertensives. A significant decrease in filtration was observed in the Pycnogenol groups. Pycnogenol controls this type of edema, it helps to prevent and limit long-term damage in the microcirculation in hypertensive patients, and allows the dose of anti-hypertensive drugs to be reduced in most patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Irvine2 Vasc Lab, G D'annunzio University. Cardres@abol.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cornelli
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodhewald
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stuard
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacchio
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gizzi
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugall
authors.forename: Filiberto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fano
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005419:Flavonoids; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C024070:pycnogenols; D009543:Nifedipine