EFFECTS OF SUSTAINED-RELEASE ISRADIPINE ON LEFT-VENTRICULAR ANATOMY AND FUNCTION IN SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION

With use of digitized M-mode echocardiograms and 24-hour noninvasive a mbulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, the effects of chronic treat ment with sustained-release isradipine on left ventricular (LV) morpho logy and function in hypertensive patients were evaluated. We selected 12 patients with LV hypertrophy and normal LV diastolic diameter. Ech ocardiograms and 24-hour BP monitoring were performed after 2 weeks of placebo and after 6 months of oral treatment with sustained-release i sradipine (5 mg once daily). Therapy significantly reduced BP without changes in heart rate. LV mass decreased in all patients and peak leng thening rate of LV diameter, index of diastolic function, increased in all, with normalization in 7 of the 9 with basal diastolic impairment . Peak shortening rate of LV diameter, index of systolic function, was normal in all patients at basal evaluation and did not change after t herapy. Reduction in LV mass significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the decrease in average 24-hour and daytime systolic and diastolic BP. Sustained-release isradipine administered once daily is an effective antihypertensive agent; the drug also induces regression of LV hypertr ophy, with significant improvement in LV diastolic function and no det erioration in systolic function.