CALCIUM-ANTAGONIST ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT OF NON-LNSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETICS - EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF LACIDIPINE VERSUS NIFEDIPINE SR

Arterial hypertension is a chronic condition regarded as one of the ma in risk factors for development of coronary atherosclerosis, As dyslip idemia and reduced glucose tolerance are also risk factors for coronar y disease, it is considered important to use antihypertensive drugs ha ving no negative effects on lipid and glucose metabolism when diabetic patients are treated for hypertension, Lacidipine, a new dihydropyrid ine-like calcium antagonist, has been shown in in vivo and in vitro pr eclinical studies to possess potent, long-lasting antihypertensive act ivity, The present study compared the efficacy and safety of once-dail y treatment with lacidipine versus nifedipine SR given twice-daily in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Results have shown a similar efficacy of the two treatments: 6 months later, both drugs had reduced blood pressure values [lacidipine from 184.8/105.2 mm Hg to 144.4/87. 1 mm Hg; nifedipine slow-release (SR) from 182.3/106.8 mm Hg to 143.6/ 89.4 mm Hg]. However, lacidipine exhibited a lower incidence of advers e events (particularly ankle edema and tachycardia) than nifedipine SR . Finally, both treatments showed no negative effect on metabolic para meters (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, trigl ycerides, and blood glucose).