A CROSSOVER COMPARISON OF EXTENDED-RELEASE FELODIPINE WITH PROLONGED ACTION NIFEDIPINE IN HYPERTENSION

In a crossover design, control of blood pressure by extended release f elodipine was compared with control by prolonged action nifedipine in 21 children with renal hypertension. Compliance with once daily felodi pine was higher than with nifedipine, at 95 . 6 (SEM 2 . 7)% v 78 . 9 (6 . 0)% (p=0 . 02). Mean diastolic blood pressure was lower during th e day with felodipine than with nifedipine, at 77 . 6 (2 . 4) v 84 . 4 (2 . 8) mm Hg (p=0 . 05). Similarly, blood pressure load (the percent age of the day during which the child had blood pressure exceeding the upper Limits of normal for age) was lower for felodipine than for nif edipine: 43 . 5 (5 . 5)% v 61 . 3 (6 . 3)%. There was an opposite tren d during the night, though this did not reach statistical significance . These data suggest that once a day felodipine is effective in childr en with hypertension. This may be because of improved compliance.