ASSESSMENT OF THE RISKS OF CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKERS IN CARDIOVASCULARMEDICINE

Concerns have arisen over the safety of L-type calcium channel blocker s (CCBs) in the treatment of hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). These concerns have centered on the risk of cardiovascular even ts and related mortality, as well as on the risks of bleeding and canc er. The cardiovascular risks of CCBs appear to be a function of a subc lass of these agents. Avoidance of implicated short-acting dihydropyri dines will eliminate an increased risk for patients with hypertension or CAD; avoidance of nondihydropyridines in patients with heart failur e or left ventricular dysfunction will eliminate the increased risk as sociated with these agents. However, all CCBs are potentially implicat ed in increased risks of bleeding and possibly cancer. In view of thes e findings, CCBs must be weighed against other relatively new antihype rtensives with lower incidences of serious adverse effects.