EFFECTS OF FELODIPINE ON THE ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE AND FLUIDITY OF BLOOD IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION WHO STAGE-I

The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of felodipine on the blood pressure and on the rheological properties of patients wh o suffer from arterial hypertension without secondary organic changes (WHO stage I) and had not undergone antihypertensive treatment up to t hat time. 104 patients were included in this randomised, placebo-contr olled double-blind study. Felodipine significantly decreased the confi rmatory parameters, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, by 10% from 154 to 140 mmHg and from 94 to 85 mmHg respectively (p<0.001). A significant difference between felodipine and placebo was found for t he exploratory parameters except for the haematocrit. Felodipine decre ased the plasma viscosity by 7% (p<0.001), the erythrocyte aggregation by t2% (p<0.01), the spontaneous thrombocyte aggregation by 40% (p<0. 001) and leukocyte adhesiveness by 24% (p<0.01). These parameters rema ined unchanged by placebo. One of the patients in the felodipine group complained of kidney pain and headache and discontinued the treatment . Another patient in the Felodipine group and two of the patients in t he placebo group dropped out because of lack of compliance. Five patie nts in the felodipine group and 4 patients in the placebo group compla ined of adverse drug reactions such as headache, ankle edema, tirednes s, kidney pain, gastrointestinal complaints and one had an attack of g out.