Nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system: an overview of its antiatherosclerotic effects.
Atherosclerosis is the main underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease. Experimental studies in animal models provided early evidence of the antiatherosclerotic effects of nifedipine in reducing and reversing plaque formation and improving endothelial function. Over the past decade, clinical trials, including 'Intervention as a Goal in Hypertension Treatment', 'Prospective Randomized Enalapril Study Evaluating Regression of Ventricular Enlargement', 'Evaluation of Nifedipine and Cerivastatin on Recovery of Coronary Endothelial Function' and 'A Coronary Disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine Gastrointestinal System', have further demonstrated that nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system can slow the progression of various markers of atherosclerosis, restore endothelial function, and reduce the incidence of coronary events and the need for coronary interventions. These results are reviewed here, along with the impact they have had on therapy guidelines for patients with hypertension and symptomatic stable angina.
Ueng
Kwo-Chang
KC
Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Lin
Ming-Cheng
MC
Chan
Kuei-Chuan
KC
Lin
Chung-Sheng
CS
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006801:Humans; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009543:Nifedipine