title: Blood pressure and metabolic effect of a combination of lercanidipine with different antihypertensive drugs in clinical practice.
abstract: The aim of this study is to assess the blood pressure (BP) and metabolic effects of lercanidipine when combined with other classes of first-line antihypertensive drugs in day-to-day clinical practice. For this study, we consecutively enrolled 162 patients with uncomplicated primary hypertension, who are partial responders to the treatment with lercanidipine over a period of 24 months. Patients were then allocated to the combination of lercanidipine (10-20 mg/day) with β-blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin-II receptor blockers according to compelling indications (if any) and/or suggestions of European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology (ESH-ESC) guidelines. All the enrolled patients completed the study and no adverse drug reaction was registered during the research period. The association of a second drug with lercanidipine determined an additional BP decrease of either systolic BP or diastolic BP independently from the type of drug added (P always <.05). The additional effect of lercanidipine appears widely distributed with no significant differences in the size of BP decrease. From the metabolic point of view, the addition of a second drug did not determine a significant variation in the serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P always >.05). Conversely, a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose and serum levels of triglycerides has been observed in patients where lercanidipine has been combined with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin-II receptor blocker. In conclusion, in our study we observed that lercanidipine-based protocols are well tolerated and efficacious in reducing BP. Moreover, the association of lercanidipine with renin-angiotensin system blockers is also associated with significant improvements in triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Pad. 2-Via Albertoni 15, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Arrigo F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerocarni
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosticci
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; C060343:lercanidipine