Pall is finally lifting from calcium channel blockers
While beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to be helpful for heart disease patients, the role and safety of calcium antagonists has been called into question of late.
A recent multicenter trial showed that calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (SULAR) may be as safe as other hypertension drugs when used with diuretics and beta-blockers in managing heart disease.1
This finding comes in the wake of two large studies over the past five years that generated safety concerns about short-acting calcium channel blockers.
The more recent DEFIANT-II trial on a group of 542 postmyocardial infarction patients tested the effect of the drugs on exercise capacity in postinfarction patients with moderately impaired left ventricular function.
The study did not show improved exercise time, but did show that the drugs improved diastolic left ventricular function and that the use of calcium antagonists did not adversely affect morbidity or survival.
Reference
1. The DEFIANT-II Research Group: Doppler flow and echocardiography in functional cardiac insufficiency: Assessment of nisoldipine therapy. Cardiovascular Reviews & Reports 1997; 7:26-50.
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