Related Experiment Videos
Effects of long-term verapamil therapy on serum lipids and other metabolic parameters
1Section of Cardiology, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Verapamil, a calcium antagonist, showed no adverse effects on most metabolic parameters in hypertensive patients over 5 years. However, it significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, suggesting long-term benefits for hypertension management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Metabolic Medicine
Background:
- Calcium antagonists are established hypertension treatments.
- Long-term metabolic effects of calcium antagonists, like verapamil, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term impact of verapamil monotherapy on serum lipids and metabolic parameters in hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- 45 hypertensive patients received verapamil monotherapy.
- Patients were monitored for 4 to 8 years, with a mean follow-up of 5.3 years.
- Serum lipids, glucose, potassium, and uric acid levels were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels remained unchanged.
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased (p < 0.05).
- Serum glucose, potassium, and uric acid levels were unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Verapamil demonstrates favorable long-term metabolic effects in hypertensive patients.
- The increase in HDL cholesterol suggests potential cardiovascular benefits.
- Verapamil is a promising agent for the long-term management of essential hypertension.
Abstract:
Calcium antagonists have been used successfully in the management of hypertension for more than a decade, but less is known about their long-term metabolic effects. To define the impact of one calcium antagonist, verapamil, on serum lipids and other metabolic parameters, we placed 45 hypertensive patients on verapamil monotherapy and followed them for 4 to 8 years. After a mean treatment period of 5.3 years, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly different from baseline, whereas the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value increased significantly from 1.17 +/- 0.41 mmol/L at the initiation of treatment to 1.39 +/- 0.36 mmol/L at 5.3 years (p less than 0.05). Other important biochemical parameters, including serum glucose, potassium and uric acid levels were unaffected by verapamil therapy. No serious side effects or adverse cardiovascular events occurred during verapamil therapy, and there were no study dropouts. It therefore seems likely that this agent will become increasingly useful in the long-term management of essential hypertension.