EVALUATION OF NILVADIPINE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS USING NONINVASIVE AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITORING

Nilvadipine was administered to 11 patients, eight with essential hypertension and three hypertensives on hemodialysis therapy for four weeks to investigate the effect on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was measured at baseline and four weeks later. Average systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure decreased significantly (SBP from 172 +/- 16 mmHg to 146 +/- 19 mmHg [P < 0.001]; DBP from 89 +/- 13 mmHg to 80 +/- 8 mmHg [P < 0.01]) and heart rate remained unchanged. Systolic and diastolic hyperbaric area decreased significantly (systolic hyperbaric area from 723 +/- 369 mmHg.hr/day to 287 +/- 329 mmHg.hr/day [P < 0.001]; diastolic hyperbaric area from 144 +/- 154 mmHg-hr/day to 54 +/- 50 mmHg-hr/day [P < 0.01]). SBP and DBP did not decrease further during sleep. No notable side effects were seen during the observation period in either subjective or objective signs, or laboratory data. Nilvadipine appears to be useful in the treatment of hypertension throughout the 24-hour period.