The effect of a single oral dose of a calcium-channel blocker on renal function in kidney transplant recipients

Calcium-channel blockers administered prior to and/or immediately following renal transplantation have been reported to attenuate the ischemic/reperfu sion renal injury, to improve renal blood flow, and to decrease the inciden ce of delayed graft function. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, plac ebo-controlled study assessed the effect of a single oral dose of a long-ac ting calcium-channel blocker (nifedipine GITS 30 mg) on renal function and hemodynamics prior to the initiation of cyclosporine therapy in patients wh o underwent cadaveric renal transplantation. One week following renal trans plantation, the nifedipine GITS-treated group had higher glomerular filtrat ion rate (41 +/- 8 vs 23 +/- 5 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [SEM]) and effective renal plasma flow (244 +/- 37 vs 151 +/- 22 mL/min/1.73 m(2) [SEM]) compared with the placebo-treated group. No differences were noted between groups in:the need for hemodialysis. These data suggest that a single oral dose of a lon g-acting calcium-channel blocker, given prior to renal transplantation, sho rtens the renal recovery period.