EFFECTS OF NITRENDIPINE ON THE CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS OF ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of nitrendipine, a di hydropyridine calcium channel blocker, on cerebral blood flow (CBF) an d cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CRC) in elderly patients with mild -to-moderate hypertension. A total of 10 patients ranging in age from 61 to 75 years (mean age, 69 +/- 4 years) were treated with 5 or 10 mg of nitrendipine once a day for 12 weeks. CBF and CRC were measured us ing stable xenon computed tomography scans with acetazolamide challeng e before and after the 12-week treatment. Decreases in systolic and di astolic blood pressures were statistically significant. Baseline CBF r emained in the normal range, whereas CRC improved in all cortical area s. Increases in whole hemispheric CRC, from 32.7 +/- 4.7% to 44.0 +/- 5.3%,were statistically significant. Antihypertensive treatment with n itrendipine benefited cerebral hemodynamics with respect to maintainin g baseline CBF and improving CRC in the elderly hypertensive patients.