QUERY: Influence of Nilvadipine, a new calcium channel blocker on the daytime blood pressure profile and 24-hour blood pressure values in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
Method: Single-blind study in 20 hospitalized hypertensives over a period of 23 days (10 days placebo, 8 days 1 x 8 mg Nilvadipine, 5 days placebo). Blood pressure was measured at 7.00 a.m. prior to drug ingestion and daytime blood pressure profiles obtained on days 10, 11, 18, 19 and 23. The objectives were to lower the median diastolic blood pressure or daytime blood pressure profiles on the last day vis-a-vis the baseline values, and to establish the response rate (blood pressure diastolic less than 90 mmHg) 24 hours after the last dose of Nilvadipine.
Results: After 8 days on Nilvadipine, the median diastolic daytime blood pressure profile had decreased by almost 10 mmHg. The response rate was 42%. In the same period, the systolic blood pressure decreased by 30 mmHg. Six out of 20 patients manifested transient side effects typical of calcium channel blockers.