Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Contractions of Human-iPSC-derived Cardiomyocyte Syncytia Measured with a Ca-sensitive Fluorescent Dye in Temperature-controlled 384-well Plates
07:42

Contractions of Human-iPSC-derived Cardiomyocyte Syncytia Measured with a Ca-sensitive Fluorescent Dye in Temperature-controlled 384-well Plates

Published on: October 18, 2018

[Calcium antagonists: current and future applications based on new evidence. Calcium channel blockers and JSH2009]

Toshiaki Ebina1, Kazuo Kimura, Satoshi Umemura

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Japan.

Clinical Calcium
|January 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The 2009 Japanese Society of Hypertension guidelines recommend calcium channel blockers as a first-line treatment for hypertension, particularly dihydropyridines for patients with complications and the elderly.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • The 2009 Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension by the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH2009) established primary antihypertensive drug classes.
  • Key drug classes include calcium channel blockers (CCBs), angiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and beta-adrenergic blockers.

Purpose:

  • To outline the recommended antihypertensive drug classes based on the JSH2009 guidelines.
  • To specify the indications and contraindications for calcium channel blockers in hypertension management.

Summary:

  • Dihydropyridine CCBs offer superior blood pressure reduction without compromising organ blood flow, making them suitable for patients with comorbidities and the elderly.
  • Positive indications for CCBs include left ventricular hypertrophy, tachycardia (non-dihydropyridines), angina pectoris, chronic cerebrovascular disease, and elderly patients.
  • Non-dihydropyridine CCBs are contraindicated in patients with bradycardia.

Impact:

  • Provides clear guidance on selecting appropriate antihypertensive agents, particularly CCBs, for diverse patient populations.
  • Highlights the importance of considering patient-specific factors like age, comorbidities, and heart rate when prescribing CCBs.
  • Contributes to optimizing hypertension management strategies for improved patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents10:53

Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents

Published on: July 3, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers01:18

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine01:25

Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine

Angina pectoris, a primary symptom of ischemic heart disease, requires careful pharmacological interventions. In this context, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and ranolazine have emerged as crucial pharmacotherapeutic agents, providing deep insights into the complexities of angina management.
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...