title: Beneficial Effect of Efonidipine, an L- and T-Type Dual Calcium Channel Blocker, on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Essential Hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Efonidipine hydrochloride, an L- and T-type dual calcium channel blocker, is suggested to have a heart rate (HR)-slowing action in addition to a blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of efonidipine on HR and BP in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multi-center, prospective, open-labeled, single-armed study, we enrolled 53 patients who had mild-to-moderate hypertension {sitting diastolic BP (SiDBP) 90-110 mmHg}. After a 2-week washout, eligible patients were treated with efonidipine (40 mg once daily for 12 weeks). The primary end point was the change in HR from baseline to week 12. The secondary end-point included the change in trough sitting BP and 24-hour mean BP between baseline and week 12. Laboratory and clinical adverse events were monitored at each study visit (4, 8, and 12 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. After 12 weeks of treatment with efonidipine, the resting HR decreased significantly from baseline to week 12 {from 81.5±5.3 to 71.8±9.9 beats/minute (difference, -9.9±9.0 beats/minute), p<0.0001}. The trough BP {sitting systolic blood pressure (SiSBP) and SiDBP} and 24-hour mean BP also decreased significantly (SiSBP: from 144.6±8.2 to 132.9±13.5 mmHg, p<0.0001; SiDBP: from 96.9±5.4 to 88.3±8.6 mmHg, p<0.0001, 24-hour mean systolic BP: from 140.4±13.5 to 133.8±11.6 mmHg, p<0.0001; 24-hour mean diastolic BP: from 91.7±8.7 to 87.5±9.5 mmHg, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efonidipine was effective in controlling both HR and BP in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Myung-Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Hae-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Gil
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won-Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: Kyoo-Rok
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Se-Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Cheol-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim