Effect of nifedipine on plasma renin, aldosterone and catecholamines in arterial hypertension

Summary

Acute sublingual administration of nifedipine 10–20 mg to 13 hypertensive patients caused a rapid decrease in blood pressure (BP) and a concomitant increase in heart rate (HR), plasma noradrenaline (NA) and plasma renin activity (PRA); there was no significant change in plasma adrenaline (A) or aldosterone (ALDO). Basal PRA was the major determinant of the rise in PRA, as a close correlation was present between the basal value and the increase caused by nifedipine (r=0.92, p<0.001). The rise in PRA was also correlated with the plasma concentration of nifedipine after 60 min (r=0.80, p<0.01), but it was not correlated with the decrease in BP, the rise in HR or the increase in NA. Nifedipine 30–60 mg daily for 6 weeks caused a reduction in mean BP from 133 to 113 mmHg (p<0.001). Body weight and serum potassium decreased but no consistent change was noted in NA, PRA, ALDO or 24 h-excretion of catecholamines. A significant correlation was present between the change in NA and that in PRA (r=0.74, p<0.01). The alterations in the various parameters in the acute and chronic studies were not correlated. The findings indicate that different regulatory mechanisms are activated during acute and chronic administration of nifedipine. It is suggested that an initial rise in sympathetic activity gradually decreases during prolonged therapy, but it still remains a determinant of PRA.