title: Nifedipine versus carvedilol in the treatment of de novo arterial hypertension after liver transplantation: results of a controlled clinical trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare nifedipine and carvedilol in the treatment of de novo arterial hypertension after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The study included 50 patients who developed arterial hypertension after OLT. Twenty-five patients received nifedipine (group A), and 25 received carvedilol (group B). Patients were defined as intolerant to nifedipine or carvedilol if severe adverse effects developed. These patients stopped the first drug and were switched to the other one. Patients were defined as full responders to monotherapy if there was normalization of blood pressure, and they were defined as partial responders by the need to add a second antihypertensive drug, ramipril. The 2 groups of patients were similar for baseline conditions. At the end of the study, patients intolerant to monotherapy were 48% of group A and 12.5% of group B (P < 0.01). Full responders were 20% of group A and 33.33% of group B (P < 0.01). Partial responders were 22% of group A and 54.1% of group B (P < 0.01). The addition of ramipril normalized blood pressure in 19% of partial responders to monotherapy (75% in partial responders to nifedipine and 30% in partial responders to carvedilol, P < 0.01). In responders to either monotherapy or combined therapy, there was a significant improvement of renal function. In responders to carvedilol, but not in responders to nifedipine, the daily dose of tacrolimus at 1 year should be reduced to 50% compared to the baseline dose to maintain the blood trough level in the therapeutic range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galioto
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semplicini
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanus
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasolato
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sticca
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boccagni
authors.forename: Anna Chiara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cillo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angeli
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D009543:Nifedipine