PREVALENCE OF CORONARY CALCIFICATION IN RELATION TO AGE, GENDER AND RISK FACTOR PROFILE IN THE INSIGHT POPULATION

Calcium controls numerous events within the vessel wall. Permeability of the endothelium is calcium dependent, Calcium is also essential for penetration of low-density lipoprotein particles through the endothel ium as well as the monocytes that travel through the subendothelial sp ace, Other calcium-dependent processes include platelet activation and adhesion, vascular smooth muscle proliferation and migration, and syn thesis of fibrous connective tissue in the subendothelial space. Curre nt evidence indicates that calcium channel blockers retard the develop ment of atherosclerosis in monkeys and rabbits. Human trials have eval uated sequential coronary angiograms in patients undergoing coronary a ngiography for symptomatic coronary artery disease. Double helix compu terised tomography is a non-invasive technique that can detect, measur e and compare calcification in the coronary arteries. Our objectives a re to determine whether the use of nifedipine vs diuretics in hyperten sive patients at high risk of coronary calcification will arrest or sl ow the progression of calcification in the coronary arteries, and to a ssess the effect of the two drugs on left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular mass as well as on changes in left ventricular funct ion.