title: Effects of Cilnidipine on Heart Rate and Uric Acid Metabolism in Patients With Essential Hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relation between hypertension and hyperuricemia has been established by epidemiological studies. Calcium channel blockers are one of the first-line drugs for newly diagnosed patients with essential hypertension. Cilnidipine is a new calcium channel blocker acting by blocking both L- and N-type calcium channels. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of amlodipine and cilnidipine in patients with essential hypertension and their effects on heart rate and serum uric acid levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 100 enrolled patients, 92 completed the study. They were randomly assigned to amlodipine (N = 47) and cilnidipine (N = 45) groups. Cilnidipine was started at 10 mg/day and then adjusted to 5 - 20 mg/day, and amlodipine was started at 5 mg/day and then adjusted to 2.5 - 10 mg/day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 weeks of study, patients in cilnidipine groups showed significant reduction in heart rate and serum uric acid levels from baseline (P = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In clinical setting where both hypertension and hyperuricemia exist, cilnidipine can be a promising drug of choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Arijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Abha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gari
authors.affiliation: C.H. Hospital, Dhurwa, Ranchi, India.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Ishpat Cooperative Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Debleena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dey
keywords: Cilnidipine; Heart rate; Hypertension; Hyperuricemia; Serum uric acid, L- and N-type calcium channel blocker