Oxygen-free radical decrease in hypertensive patients treated with lercanidipine

Background. The relationship between oxidative stress, lipoproteins, cardio vascular risk factors and vascular disease progression has recently attract ed fresh attention due to the possibility of measuring free radicals (FRs). The aim of this study was to evaluate blood plasma variations in oxygen FR s in hypertensive patients treated with lercanidipine, a drug acting on blo od pressure and microcirculation. Methods. Twenty-two patients with moderate hypertension (M:F= 12: 10; age=5 2) and no vascular disease (evaluated by high-resolution ultrasound) were t reated for 24 weeks with Lercanidipine (10 mg/day or 20 mg/day if BP values did not decrease at least 15% after four weeks of treatment). BP was measu red at inclusion and after 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. FRs measurem ents (using the D-Roms test) were made at inclusion, at the 8th, 12th and 2 4th week. Results. All patients completed the treatment which was well tolerated and without side effects. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased after 8, 12 (p <0 .05) and 24 weeks (at 24 weeks systolic pressure was decreased by 21. 1%, a nd diastolic by 11.1%; p <0.02). FRs levels progressively decreased from 54 1 Carr Units (SD 54) at inclusion to 411 (SD 56) at eight weeks (p <0.05), to 401 (SD 35) (p <0.05) at 12 weeks and finally to 398 (SD 33), (p <0.02) at 24 weeks of treatment (72.2% of the initial value). Conclusions. The possibility of measuring FRs in vivo with a simple, inexpe nsive test allows the identification of subjects with a high level of oxida tive stress, and the monitoring of the effects of treatments. Lercanidipine , acting on blood pressure, on the microcirculation and decreasing oxidativ e stress and FRs plasma levels may effectively decrease the rate of progres sion of cardiovascular diseases offering the advantage of an increased leve l of protection in patients with high levels of oxidative stress.