Calcium antagonists and blood filterability
Muggia, C.; Ranieri, M.G.; Bobba, L.; Testa, F.; Martignoni, A.; Perani, G.; Finardi, G.
La Clinica Terapeutica 123(4): 281-285
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9074 PMID: 2972490 Document Number: 299292
The effects of two different calcium-channel blocking agents, nifedipine and tiapamil, on whole blood filterability were assessed in a double-blind study. Twenty-two patients with essential hypertension were studied. After 6 weeks of active treatment, both agents induced a significant improvement in whole blood filterability. This effect was slightly more pronounced for tiapamil (n = 11, -13%) than for nifedipien (n = 11, -9%). As whole blood filterability is largely dependent on erythrocyte deformability, the two calcium-channel blocking drugs may exert a favourable impact on one of the most important factors involved in the control of microcirculatory function in hypertensive subjects.