Antihypertensive Action of Calcium Blockade in Hypertensive Patients with Chronic Renal Disease

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Abstract
The concentration of ionic calcium (Ca2+ in the smooth muscular cells of the resistance vessels is a determining factor of their contraction. It depends on the influx of Ca2+ to the interior of the cells through the calcium channels in the sarcolemma. The effect of a specific Ca2+-channel blocking agent – nifedipine – on arterial hypertension in a group of 18 patients with chronic renal hypertension is reported in this study. The combination of nifedipine and propranolol in the control of hypertension in 6 of these patients in a long-term follow-up was also studied. It was concluded: (1) Ca2+ blockade had a rapid and powerful antihypertensive effect in all patients; (2) the antihypertensive effect was higher with high initial blood pressure levels; this fact was especially evident and appeared particularly useful in hypertensive emergencies; (3) in some patients, the action of nifedipine was dose-dependent; (4) nifedipine had a short-lived action; (5) the combination nifedipine-propranolol was efficient in the long-term control of hypertension.