Sustained release verapamil in renal hypertension

In 14 patients with arterial hypertension secondary to chronic renal parenchymal disease and impaired renal function, 24-h ambulatory and casual blood pressure readings plasma, angiotensin II, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide, creatinine clearance, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and body weight were determined after consecutive 3-week periods on placebo and sustained release verapamil 240 mg/day. Verapamil reduced the mean 24-h ambulatory blood pressure from 152/104 to 142/97 mm Hg. Blood pressure was significantly reduced during the daytime and the evening, but not at night. Casual blood pressure was also significantly reduced from 176/106 mm Hg to 154/96 mm Hg. No significant changes were found in the hormones, creatinine clearance, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, heart rate or body weight. The atrial natriuretic peptide level was significantly correlated with the calculated creatinine clearance (r = -0.797). Thus, sustained release verapamil 240 mg as a single daily dose had a moderate hypotensive effect in patients with chronic renal disease without inducing tachycardia, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or increasing body weight, and without altering renal function and plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The negative correlation between atrial natriuretic peptide and glomerular filtration rate supports the hypothesis that the extracellular volume increases during progression of renal disease.