Summary
The effect of nitrendipine 20 mg o.d., a new calcium entry blocker similar in structure to nifedipine, on blood pressure has been evaluated in 14 patients (aged 24–62 years) with uncomplicated mild or moderate arterial hypertension. A significant decrease both in systolic (160±12 at baseline vs 141±8 mm Hg, p<0.001) and diastolic (106±8 vs 93±3 mm Hg, p<0.001) blood pressure was observed at the end of 8 weeks of nitrendipine treatment. An inverse correlation was found between age and the reduction in diastolic blood pressure (r=0.772, p<0.001 as absolute reduction; r=0.791, p<0.001 as percentage reduction versus baseline). This peculiar characteristic differentiates the effect of nitrendipine from that of other calcium entry blockers, which appear to be more effective in older patients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Bühler FR, Burkart F, Lutold BE, Kung M, Marbet G, Pfisteter M (1975) Antihypertensive beta-blocking action as related to renin and age: a pharmacological tool to identify pathogenetic mechanisms in essential hypertension. Am J Cardiol 36: 653–669
Stumpe KO, Kolloch R, Vettor H, Gramann W, Kruck F, Ressel Ch, Highuchi M (1976) Acute and long term studies of the mechanism of action of beta-blocking drugs in lowering blood pressure. Am J Med 60: 853–865
Drayer JIM, Weber MD, Longworth DL, Laragh JH (1978) The possible importance of aldosterone as well as renin in the long term antihypertensive action of propranolol. Am J Med 64: 187–192
Bühler FR, Hulthén UL, Kiowski W, Bolli P (1983) β-blockers and calcium antagonists. Cornerstones of antihypertensive therapy in the 1980s. In: Robertson JIS, Kaplan NM, Caldwell ADS, Speight TM (eds) Symposium on β-blockers in the 1980s. Focus on Atenolol. Drugs 25 (Suppl 2): 50–57
Leonetti G, Sala C, Bianchini C, Terzoli L, Zanchetti A (1980) Antihypertensive and renal effects of orally administered verapamil. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 18: 375–382
De Simone G, Ferrara LA, Fasano ML, Di Lorenzo L, Lauria R (1985) Slow release nifedipine versus placebo in the treatment of arterial hypertension: a double-blind ergometric evaluation of cardiac workload. Jpn Heart J (in press)
Garthoff B, Knorr A, Thomas G, Kazda S (1982) Nitrendipine increase sodium excretion in acutely saline-loaded rats. Biochem Pharmacol 31: 3015–3016
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ferrara, L.A., Fasano, M.L. & Soro, S. Age related antihypertensive effect of nitrendipine, a new calcium entry blocking agent. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 28, 473–474 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544370
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544370