THE EFFECTS OF NISOLDIPINE ON CAROTID-ARTERY STIFFNESS AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTIONS

Doppler echocardiographic determinations, left ventricular (LV) fracti onal shortening (FS), cardiac output (CO), diastolic function paramete r (E/A ratio) and carotid artery pulse wave velocity and stiffness wer e evaluated in 36 patients with essential hypertension before and afte r nisoldipine treatment. Blood pressure decreased significantly, and c arotid artery width and fractional shortening increased significantly following nisoldipine administration (p < 0.0001). Carotid artery puls e wave peak velocity did not change following the treatment period (p > 0.05). In conclusion, short term nisoldipine administration improved blood pressure and LV systolic function, whereas LV diastolic functio n and carotid artery stiffness did not change. Nisoldipine did not alt er serum biochemical parameters, including cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol (p > 0.05). Only one patient mani fested symptoms of hypotension as an adverse effect of the drug.