Inpharma 1503 - 3 Sep 2005

Nifedipine GITS as effective asenalapril in hypertension

Nifedipine GITS is as effective as enalapril and "may beconsidered a valuable treatment option for hypertensivepatients", according to results from a study conducted inItaly.*

267 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertensionwere randomised to receive nifedipine GITS 20 mg/day(n = 134) or enalapril 20 mg/day, for 12 weeks.

There were no significant between-group differenceswith respect to the reductions in sitting clinic diastolicand systolic BP. With the exception of daytime diastolicBP, ambulatory BP monitoring confirmed these results;the reduction in daytime diastolic BP was significantlygreater in the enalapril group than in the group thatreceived nifedipine (5.1 vs 1.8mm Hg).

The nifedipine recipients experienced a greaterreduction in E-selectin levels than the group thatreceived enalapril, but the between-group differencewas not significant. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1levels were reduced to a similar extent in the nifedipineand enalapril groups. Nifedipine was associated with asignificant reduction in von Willebrand factor levels,whereas levels were slightly increased by enalapril.

The incidence of adverse events was similar for bothgroups. Two nifedipine and seven enalapril recipientsdiscontinued treatment due to adverse events(p < 0.09).* This study was funded by Bayer.

Agabiti Rosei E, et al. Effects of nifedipine GITS 20 mg or enalapril 20 mg onblood pressure and inflammatory markers in patients with mild-moderatehypertension. Blood Pressure 14 (Spec. issue 1): 14-22, Jul 2005 800991163

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Inpharma 3 Sep 2005 No. 15031173-8324/10/1503-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved