Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Jan 1987
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialCentral hemodynamic changes of calcium antagonists at rest and during exercise in essential hypertension.
Since the cardinal hemodynamic disorder in essential hypertension is an increased total peripheral resistance, drugs that can lower resistance without reducing blood flow would be particularly useful. The calcium antagonists seem to fulfill this criterion. The purpose of this work was to study the hemodynamic effects at rest and during exercise of three calcium channel blockers, verapamil, nifedipine, and nisoldipine, in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. ⋯ In contrast, heart rate was reduced on verapamil treatment, particularly during exercise (about 10% of patients), but this was compensated for by an increase in the stroke volume. The hemodynamic profiles of the three calcium channel blockers were slightly different, especially with respect to the heart rate response. Total peripheral resistance was reduced, acutely as well as chronically, and no depression in cardiac pump function was seen, either at rest or during exercise.