Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with Pycnogenol.
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.
Belcaro
Gianni
G
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Irvine2 Vasc Lab, G D'annunzio University. Cardres@abol.it
Cesarone
Maria Rosaria
MR
Ricci
Andrea
A
Cornelli
Umberto
U
Rodhewald
Peter
P
Ledda
Andrea
A
Di Renzo
Andrea
A
Stuard
Stefano
S
Cacchio
Marisa
M
Vinciguerra
Giulia
G
Gizzi
Giuseppe
G
Pellegrini
Luciano
L
Dugall
Mark
M
Fano
Filiberto
F
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*
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