Effects of nicardipine on blood pressure and renal function in elderly hypertensive patients with renal dysfunction

The effects of monotherapy with nicardipine, 20 mg three times a day, have been investigated in a 1-year study of 26 elderly (greater than 60 years) patients with hypertension with various types of renal dysfunction and seven without renal dysfunction. Parameters measured included blood pressure, blood chemistry (serum creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose total cholesterol, and electrolytes), plasma renin activity, and plasma aldosterone concentration. Nicardipine was effective in reducing blood pressure in all patients with diabetic nephropathy, parenchymal renal diseases, or hypertensive nephropathy, and in those without renal dysfunction. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels were slightly elevated in some patients whose pretreatment serum creatinine level was greater than 2 mg/dl, regardless of the type of nephropathy. However, it was not determined whether this effect was the result of a reduction in blood pressure induced by nicardipine. Serum sodium, potassium, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels were unchanged by the administration of nicardipine. Changes in plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels were not significant. These results suggest that nicardipine can be used safely in elderly patients with hypertension with renal dysfunction, regardless of the type of nephropathy.