CALCIUM ANTAGONISM IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION - EFFECT ON RENAL HEMODYNAMICS AND MICROALBUMINURIA

Sixteen middle-aged men with primary hypertension were treated with th e calcium antagonist isradipine over a 9-week period in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over manner. At the end of the intervention period the urinary albumin excretion rate, systemic and r enal haemodynamics, haemorheological properties of blood and plasma co ncentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide, noradrenaline and peripher al renin activity were determined. Treatment with isradipine resulted in a substantial reduction in blood pressure due to a reduction in per ipheral resistance. The mean albumin excretion rate was not influenced by the isradipine treatment. In a multivariate analysis, changes in t he urinary albumin excretion rate were only related to changes in bloo d pressure.