HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF AMLODIPINE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION

The study was performed in 20 elderly patients with primary arterial h ypertension. After a drug-free washout period, complete Doppler echoca rdiography and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were perfor med. Therapy with amlodipine was subsequently begun (5 to 10 mg, once daily) and supplemented where necessary by the addition of another ant ihypertensive agent. After 6 months, all haemodynamic and blood pressu re (BP) parameters were reassessed. A significant reduction was record ed at the end of the study in both diastolic and systolic BP. These fi ndings were confirmed by ABPM, which showed that amlodipine controlled blood pressure over a 24-hour period without altering circadian blood pressure rhythms. Haemodynamic studies revealed a decrease in cardiac dimension and an improvement in left ventricular compliance. Amlodipi ne monotherapy normalised BP levels in 75% of the patients studied and was associated with few adverse events.