title: Nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system: an overview of its antiatherosclerotic effects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kwo-Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ueng
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuei-Chuan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chung-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009543:Nifedipine