[Vascular effects of dihydropyridines]

Dihydropyridines are the most numerous available calcium antagonists. While belonging to the same group these drugs have physical, chemical, pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties which are sometimes specific and can explain differences in the targets and the vascular selectivity. These properties can be related to lipophilic or hydrophilic characteristics, existence or lack of 'use-dependence', possible liaison to membrane phospholipids, and differences in elimination half lives. Selectivity of dihydropyridines also depends on the nature of the target structure (amount of intra-cellular calcium storage and mechanism of its release, electrophysiological properties of these cells) and of its pathological state (atherosclerosis and/or hypertension). Some of these properties could explain the anti-atherogenic effects, myocardial impact, cerebral and renal vascular flow and action in some pathological situations (Raynaud's syndrome, chronic arteriopathy, migraine...). A better knowledge of these different properties could lead to a more accurate choice of the drugs and to a decrease in the incidence of their side effects.