Antihypertensive and hypouricaemic effects of nitrendipine in chronic renal failure

To evaluate the potential therapeutic value of calcium antagonists in hypertension associated with impaired renal function, blood pressure (BP), certain regulatory factors, and metabolic correlates of cardiovascular risk have been assessed in 15 patients with mild to marked chronic renal failure before and after 6 weeks of therapy with nitrendipine. Compared to placebo, nitrendipine (mean final dose 55 mg/day) decreased supine BP from 173/102 to 146/81 mm Hg and upright BP from 170/105 to 145/86 mm Hg. Heart rate, body weight (+0.8 kg) and exchangeable sodium (+176 mmol, not significant) were minimally increased, and plasma and whole blood volume, plasma angiotensin II and creatinine concentrations, and urinary electrolyte and creatinine excretion were not significantly changed. Nitrendipine increased uric acid excretion and lowered plasma uric acid by 24%; glucose, insulin, serum total lipids, and lipoprotein fractions were unchanged.