T-CHANNEL SELECTIVE CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKADE - A REVIEW OF PUBLISHED DATA AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Preclinical as well as short-term clinical trials of mibefradil, a T-c hannel-selective calcium channel blocker, are reviewed. Mibefradil red uced afterload and was effective in reducing hypertension and stable a ngina pectoris, It did not display any relevant negative inotropic or positive chronotropic effect. Because mibefradil has been withdrawn fr om the market by the manufacturer as a result of a drug interaction in volving the cytochrome P-450 3A4 enzyme, it is hoped that new T-channe l-selective calcium channel blockers will be developed to further expl ore this promising, but thus far preliminarily tested therapeutic opti on.