Fundamentals of calcium channel blockers

The important role calcium ions play in cellular function and specifically in muscular contraction has been well established. The details of the calcium migration into the cell and its specific mechanism of action however have only recently been elucidated. Still, our current understanding of these issues represents only a tip of the iceberg. The introduction of the calcium channel blockers have heralded to some extent a new revolution in the management of many cellular disfunctions (disease states) which are, in part, related to and are dependent on the migration of calcium ions across the cell membrane. In this article, an overview of the current understanding of the role of calcium ions in cellular function with special attention to the cardiovascular system is presented. In addition, the mechanism of action of the calcium channel blockers is discussed. Finally, the usefulness of these agents in clinical medicine is mentioned, and a review of several major studies demonstrating beneficial effects of calcium channel blockers in various disorders is presented.