Calcium antagonists and their potential for antihypertensive therapy.

Abstract

Calcium antagonists are potent arterial vasodilators devoid of relevant chronic sympathetic reflex activation and sodium and volume retention. This favorable hemodynamic profile of action renders them suitable for monotherapy of hypertension where they act to reduce an enhanced, calcium-influx-dependent vasoconstrictor mechanism which may be brought about by altered smooth muscle cation handling and increased intracellular free calcium concentrations. Clinical studies have proved their efficacy, safety, and good tolerability alone or in combination with other drugs in uncomplicated hypertension where they are particularly effective in older and low-renin and possibly black patients. These properties and their efficacy in the treatment of severe and accelerated hypertension or hypertensive emergencies make them a valuable addition to already available drug therapy.

• Authors: F R Bühler, W Kiowski
• Journal: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Ann N Y Acad Sci) Vol. 522 Pg. 584-99 ( 1988) ISSN: 0077-8923 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3288062 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Calcium

Topics

• Calcium (metabolism)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Hemodynamics (drug effects)
• Humans
• Hypertension (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Kidney (drug effects)
• Vasoconstriction (drug effects)