EFFECTS OF LACIDIPINE AND NIFEDIPINE ON LOWER-LIMB VEINS IN NONPHLEBOPATHIC PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lacidipine and nif edipine on lower limb veins, Forty hypertensive patients, aged 30-50 y ears, with no deep venous thrombosis, venous insufficiency, or hypothy roidism underwent double-blind treatment with placebo (1 week), lacidi pine 4 mg once dairy (1 week), and slow-release nifedipine 20 mg twice daily (1 week) in randomized sequence. Echo-color Doppler examination of superficial, deep, communicating, and perforating veins of the leg s was performed. The results showed venous insufficiency and hypertens ion after 1-week administration of lacidipine (5 and 15%, respectively ) and nifedipine (10 and 25%, respectively) and only two cases (5%) of venous hypertension during placebo administration. Lower limb edema w as observed in two patients (5%) during treatment with nifedipine slow -release: (SR). The hemodynamic effects of lacidipine and nifedipine w ere reversible but may contribute to the mechanism of lower limb edema .