RADIONUCLIDE ANGIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS TREATED WITH EXTENDED-RELEASE FELODIPINE

In most hypertensive patients, changes in left ventricular systolic an d diastolic functions may take place before myocardial hypertrophy occ urs. Calcium antagonists, particularly the dihydropyridines, can effec tively prevent and treat cardiac complications of hypertension. Felodi pine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist with high vascular selectiv ity, appears to act on vascular myogenic tone by affecting the voltage -dependent calcium channels. In the present study, the left ventricula r function of 15 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension (mean age , 57.8 years) was monitored using radionuclide angiography. After a 4- week washout period and then after a 4-week treatment period with exte nded-release felodipine (10 mg/day in a single daily dose), the patien ts underwent 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radionuc lide angiography at rest and after exercise (75 W for women and 100 W for men). Felodipine significantly reduced systolic, diastolic, and me an blood pressures without significantly affecting heart rate. Ventric ular function also significantly improved after felodipine treatment, particularly during diastole. In its extended-release formulation, fel odipine significantly reduces patients' blood pressure and considerabl y improves ventricular function both at rest and under stress. Its pot ential as an efficacious long-term treatment for hypertension and its associated complications is clearly demonstrated.