[Antihypertensive and anti-ischemic effect of nitrendipine. Double-blind, randomized, crossover and placebo...

Nitrendipine is a newly-developed calcium channel blocker derived from the dehydropyridine series which, according to experimental studies, affects marked dilation of the peripheral and coronary vessels. As compared with the parent compound nifedipine, nitrendipine exhibits a clearly more prolonged elimination half-time. This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy, in particular, with respect to the duration of action as well as the anti-ischemic effectiveness with a protocol encompassing as many factors as possible. In 13 patients with angiographically-documented coronary artery disease and elevated blood pressure at rest and/or during exercise, on two days separated by a three-day washout period, we investigated the effects of 20 mg nitrendipine, as compared with placebo, in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study. The systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure as well as the heart rate were recorded prior to, at two, five, eight and twelve hours after medication and the blood pressure only at 24 hours. Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed during active standing at two hours, passive tilt at 2 1/2 hours and, together with analysis of the ST segments, before and during semisupine bicycle ergometry performed at three hours after tablet administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)