AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITORING IN ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVES TREATEDWITH THE NEW CALCIUM-ANTAGONIST, PRANIDIPINE (OPC-13340)

Pranidipine (OPC-13340), a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, was given to 9 elderly hypertensive inpatients aged 64 - 79 years. Once-d aily administration of pranidipine (1 - 2 mg) for 1 - 2 weeks decrease d the 24-h average BP significantly from 167/92 mmHg to 150/83 mmHg wi thout any change in pulse rate (PR) or the variabilities of BP and PR. The reduction of BP was observed exclusively during daytime (171/95 m mHg to 153/86 mmHg, p < 0.01 for SEP, p < 0.05 for DBP), while BP redu ction during nighttime was significant only for DBP (157/84 mmHg to 14 6/79 mmHg, p > 0.05 for SEP, p < 0.05 for DBP). The analysis of the ci rcadian rhythm by the cosinor method revealed that the acrophases of B P and PR were not changed significantly by the treatment with pranidip ine. No adverse effects such as flushing and headache developed during the treatment. These results suggest that once-daily treatment with p ranidipine is safe and exerts a sufficient antihypertensive effect dur ing daytime with mild reduction of nighttime BP in elderly hypertensiv es. Furthermore, it does not alter the circadian patterns or variabili ties of BP and PR. Thus, pranidipine may be useful as a monotherapy fo r elderly hypertensives.