Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025
07:14
Murine Model of Advanced Periodontitis Induced by Nylon Ligature in the Second Upper Molar
Published on: May 30, 2025
428
Amlodipine Induced Gum Hypertrophy: A Rare Case Report
Suryanarayana Challa Reddy1, Naresh Midha2, Vivek Chhabra2
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Centre Midtown Campus, Baltimore, USA.
Current Drug Safety
|November 23, 2021
Summary
Amlodipine, a common blood pressure medication, can cause gum overgrowth (gingival hyperplasia). Switching to Losartan significantly reduced this side effect in a patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Oral Medicine
Background:
- Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is a known side effect of certain medications, but its exact cause remains unclear.
- Calcium channel blockers are frequently implicated, with nifedipine being a common culprit.
- Amlodipine, a newer calcium channel blocker, has fewer reported cases of gingival hyperplasia.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old hypertensive patient developed significant gum hyperplasia while taking amlodipine 5 mg daily.
- The gingival overgrowth showed marked regression after amlodipine was replaced with Losartan.
Findings:
- Amlodipine, widely prescribed for hypertension, can lead to gingival hyperplasia.
- This side effect is often overlooked in patients receiving amlodipine therapy.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of amlodipine-induced gingival hyperplasia is crucial for clinicians.
- Recognizing this side effect can alleviate patient anxiety and reduce unnecessary diagnostic costs.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
281
Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
281
01:30Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
78
Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
78
01:29Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
148
Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
148
01:28Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics
968
Liddle syndrome is a genetically inherited form of hypertension characterized by the overactivity of epithelial sodium channels in the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. This heightened activity leads to increased sodium reabsorption and excessive excretion of potassium. To counteract this, potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride are used. They function by blocking these sodium channels, thereby reducing the influx of sodium into the epithelial cells and minimizing the loss of...
968
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
79
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
79
01:18Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
928
Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
928