The haemodynamic effects of long term felodipine therapy in previously untreated essential hypertension

Sixteen patients with previously untreated mild/moderate hypertension (WHO Stage I) were studied: 7 women and 9 men, mean age 56.2 y. Haemodynamics, central and pulmonary blood volumes were measured by radionuclide techniques and repeated after 8 weeks felodipine therapy. To achieve a target diastolic blood pressure of less than 95 mm Hg 12 patients required 5 mg bid, 2 10 mg bid and 1 2.5 mg bid; 1 withdrew after 2 weeks. Mean (SD) arterial blood pressure (mm Hg) was 189/106 before, and 182/103 after 2 weeks placebo treatment and fell to 148/84 after 8 weeks felodipine therapy. Relative systemic vascular resistance fell by 19% from 2146 to 1734 dyn.s.cm-5. There were no significant changes in heart rate, cardiac index, total blood volume, pulmonary blood volume or left ventricular ejection fraction. Plasma renin activity did not rise significantly. Short lived vasodilator side effects occurred in 7/16 patients during initial treatment and mild ankle oedema persisted in 4/16 patients. In contrast to the haemodynamic changes seen acutely with felodipine, the only sustained changes after 8 weeks therapy are reductions in systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure.